AN IMPROVED PORTABLE AND SANITARY BED COMMODE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Bradbury, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE AND SANITARY BED
COMMODE."
Sealed the 11th May 1877, and dated the 6th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Bradbury at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1877.
RICHARD BRADBURY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE AND SANITARY BED COMMODE."
The object of this Invention is to construct an inodorous, non-infectious, and
portable bed chamber utensil.
The utensil consists principally of a shallow vessel made of earthenware (or of
metal, japanned or glazed), somewhat in the form of a pair of bellows; the handle
is made hollow, with a taper hole at the orifice for the reception of a cork, which is
attached by a small chain; the handle slopes upwards at an angle of about twenty
degrees from the vessel.
The body of the vessel is rounded towards the handle, and tapers down somewhat
like a pair of bellows at the other end towards a hollow nozzle, which is formed
with a screw thread upon the outside, and is closed at the end by means of a screw
cap provided with a lining of soft india-rubber to make a liquid and gas tight
joint.
The body of the vessel is provided with a seat opening on the upper side, and
round the edge of this opening is a raised bead rounded at the top. Near to the
opening are two projections or snugs, which form hinge bearers for a lid, which fits
between them and covers the seat opening and works on a pin passing through
the said projections or snugs. The lid is lined upon the inside with soft india-
rubber secured by cement, which when compressed by a tongue catching under the
rim of the vessel and turned round by a thumb-piece outside the lid prevents any
Pasion Sl

page_text: odours or fluid matter from escaping, and effectually shuts in everything disagreeable
to sight or smell.
The utensil is cleansed by removing the cork and the screw cap and pouring in
water at the handle and allowing it to escape through the nozzle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Bradbury in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
September 1877.
RICHARD BRADBURY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
PORTABLE AND SANITARY BED COMMODE."
"AN IMPROVED
The object of this Invention is to construct an inodorous, non-infectious and
portable bed chamber utensil; and the nature of my said Invention will be readily
understood on reference to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the Drawing is a section, and Fig. 2 a plan view of a portable bed com-
mode inade according to my Invention; Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a modi-
fication thereof; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section across the line A, B, in Fig. 1.
The utensil consists principally of a shallow vessel a, a, (Figs. 1 and 2) made of
earthenware, or of metal japanned or glazed, or of other suitable material, some-
what in the form of a pair of bellows; the handle b, b, slopes slightly upwards,
being made hollow, with a taper hole at the end for the reception of a cork or
india-rubber or other plug c, c, which may be attached by a small chain if
preferred.
The body a, a, of the vessel is rounded towards the handle, and tapers down
somewhat like a pair of bellows at the other end. At one side of the vessel (or at
the tapering end opposite to the handle) is formed a hollow nozzle d, d, which may
be fitted with a cork or india-rubber or other plug e, e, as shown; or it may be
formed with a screw thread on the outside and closed at the end by means of a
screw cap provided with a lining of soft india-rubber to make a liquid and gas-tight
joint. The handle may also be closed by a screw cap. if preferred, but the elastic
plugs cand e will be found more convenient and less troublesome.
The body of the vessel a, a, is provided with a seat opening f, f, on the upper
side, to which is fitted a hinged lid g, g. This lid is made with an inner rim or
bead at h, h, and round this is a ring of elastic material i, i, (tubular india-rubber
by preference,) which when compressed by a tongue k, k, catching under the rim of
the vessel and turned round by a thumb-piece or knob 1, 1, outside the lid prevents
any odours or fluid matter from escaping, and effectually shuts in everything dis-
agreeable to sight or smell.
The utensil is cleansed by removing the plugs cand e and pouring in water at
the handle b, and allowing it to escape through the nozzle d.
The utensil represented at Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is somewhat modified in form, and
has the nozzle placed opposite to the handle instead of being at one side.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "An Im-
proved Portable and Sanitary Bed Commode," together with the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to
be understood that I claim as my Invention,-
First. The application to a portable and sanitary bed commode of a scaled air
and fluid tight lid, either hinged or otherwise, such sealing being effected (by pre-
ference) by a yielding surface of india-rubber or other suitable material.
Secondly. I claim the adaptation to such utensils of a nozzle or second outlet
(in addition to the handle) for the purpose of facilitating the cleansing of the same,

page_text: in whatever part of the vessel such outlet is placed, or by whatever means the
closing thereof may be effected.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Bradbury, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
RICHARD BRADBURY. (L.S.)