IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE OR TABLE FOUNTAINS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE OR TABLE FOUNTAINS."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Adolphe Jean Jouret, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 9th June 1876, and dated the 22nd December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd December 1875.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE OR TABLE FOUNTAINS,"
to be as follows :—
This Invention relates, first, to an improved reversible portable or
table fountain operating on the principle of Hero's fountain, but
differing therefrom in construction in several essential particulars,
viz. :-
1st. In a special arrangement of tubes and chambers, whereby on

page_text: t
turning the apparatus upside down the water and air return auto-
matically and naturally to such relative positions as will ensure the
action of the jet without the necessity of pouring off every time a
certain quantity of water from the reservoir or basin.
2nd. In a special construction of enclosed basin whereby the spilling t
of the liquid is prevented when the fountain is reversed.
3rd. In the capability by a special arrangement of the tubes,
chambers, and basins of projecting a jet in two opposite directions
either simultaneously or alternately as desired.
The apparatus may be made of any form externally, and may be used
either as a table fountain or as a perfume vaporiser, or as a toy for
children.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, which
show several examples of these improved fountains. Figure 1 is a
central vertical section of a double-acting fountain, that is to say, in
which jets may be discharged in opposite directions either simultaneously
or alternately.
It will be seen on examining the Figure that the apparatus is com-
prised of two exactly similar sets of chambers and tubes, each set
complete in itself, but placed in reverse. positions, so that when the one
is placed in position for producing à jet the other is upside down, thus
enabling the air and water to obey the laws of gravity and assume such
position that when the apparatus is. reversed the order of the two
clements will be inverted and the action of the fountain recommenced,
'which operation is repeated every time the jet which is for the time
being uppermost ceases to act.
It will suffice to describe one set of chambers and tubes, the other set
being precisely similar.
";
Each comprise a basin A. and two chambers or reservoirs B, C. The
basin A is enclosed by a cover a inclining downwards towards the centre,
said cover serving to collect the water falling from the jet, which flows
down a and through the central aperture B¹, the cover also serving to
retain the water in basin A when the fountain is reversed. The cover a
may, however, be dispensed with. Basin A communicates with
reservoir B by a pipe D leading nearly to the bottom of the said
reservoir. A second pipe E leads from the upper part of reservoir B to

page_text: the upper part of the reservoir C; C¹ is the jet tube of smaller diameter.
It leads from near the bottom of reservoir C and projects up through the
bottom of basin A; F, plates dividing the two halves of the apparatus;
G, cylindrical casing connecting the two reservoirs and enclosing the
pipes.
Liquid poured into basin A. flows down pipe D, and fills reservoir B
and a portion of C. By placing the apparatus in a horizontal position
the water flows out of the reservoirs to the level of tubes D and E into
basin A. By then inverting the apparatus so as to have the reservoir B
uppermost the remaining liquid therein will descend through pipe E
into reservoir C and fill the same. If the apparatus be then reversed so
as to have the reservoir B undermost, the water contained in basin A will
flow down into reservoir B, the air in which, being compressed, will act
on the water in C so as to project the same in the form of a jet.
On the jet becoming exhausted the apparatus is again reversed to
renew the jet, and so on.
By supporting the apparatus at its cylindrical part G two jets may be
simultaneously projected in opposite directions from jet nozzles C¹; or if
only one jet is desired one of the nozzles C¹ would be closed by a screw
or other cap.
Figure 2 shows a vertical elevation, and Figure 3 a horizontal section
on line 1, 2, Figure 2, of another arrangement of fountain, in which the
cylindrical casing G is dispensed with, leaving visible the four pipes
D, D, E, E, which resemble columns supporting the basins; H, tray in
which the fountain stands to catch any water which may drip in
reversing the apparatus.
Figure 4 shows a central vertical section, and Figure 5 a horizontal
section on line 3, 4, Figure 4, of a non-reversible or single jet fountain.
In this arrangement the pipe D is placed within pipe E, and projects
beyond the ends of the latter in reservoirs B, C, as shown. By this
means the stem or pillar I of the fountain uniting the reservoirs is
rendered of more slender and graceful form.
J, Figures 2 and 4, a small disc placed upon nozzle C¹ in order to hide.
the opening in the bottom of the basin.

page_text: ·SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th June 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her
special license that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, 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 PORTABLE OR TABLE
FOUNTAINS," a communication to me from abroad by Adolphe Jean
Jouret, of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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 Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved portable or table fountain,

page_text: operating on the principle of Hero's fountain, but differing therefrom in
construction in several essential particulars, viz. :—
1st. In a special arrangement of tubes and chambers whereby on
'turning the fountain upside down the water and air return automatically
and naturally to such relative positions, as to renew the action of the
fountain without the necessity of pouring off every time a certain
quantity of water from the reservoir or basin.
2nd. In a special construction of enclosed basin whereby the spilling
of the liquid is prevented when the fountain is reversed.
3rd. In the capability by the double arrangement of the tubes,
chambers, and basins of projecting a jet alternately from the two opposite
ends, the action of the one jet being renewed (as mentioned in para-
graph 1) whilst the other jet is playing, and vice versa, so that by
reversing the fountain as each jet becomes exhausted its action is almost
continuous. By holding the fountain in a horizontal position two jets
may be obtained simultaneously one from either end.
○ The apparatus may be made more or less ornamental in form, and of
any suitable material, and may be used either as a table fountain or as a
perfume vaporiser or a toy for children.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, which
show several examples of these improved fountains.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a double-acting fountain, that
is to say, a fountain in which jets may be discharged in opposite
directions, either simultaneously or alternately.
It will be seen on examining the Figure that the apparatus is com.
.posed of two exactly similar sets of chambers and tubes, each set
complete in itself, but placed in the reverse positions, so that when the
one is in position for producing a jet the other is upside down, thus
enabling the air and water to obey the laws of gravity and occupy such
position that when the apparatus is reversed the order of the two
elements will be inverted and the fountain will recommence its action,
the fountain being reversed every time the jet which is for the time
being uppermost ceases to act.
It will suffice to describe one set of chambers and tubes, the other set
hoing precisals similer

page_text: fountain. In this arrangement the pipe D is placed within pipe E and
projects beyond the ends of the latter in reservoirs B, C, as shown. By
this means the stem or pillar I of the fountain uniting the reservoirs
may be made of more slender and graceful form.
J, Figures 2 and 4, represents a small disc placed upon nozzle C¹ in
order to hide the opening in the cover a; K, screw plug closing the
aperture at which the fountain is emptied. This plug in the double
arrangement is masked by an ornament..
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The particular arrangement of tubes and chambers herein shown
and described, whereby on turning the fountain upside down the water
and air are caused to return automatically and naturally to such relative
positions as to renew the action of the fountain when exhausted, as set
forth.
2nd. The application of the funnel-shaped cover a to enclose the
basin, as herein shown and described, and prevent the spilling of the
liquid when the fountain is reversed, as set forth.
3rd. The combination in one apparatus of two distinct sets of
chambers, basins, and tubes, arranged to form a double-ended fountain
for projecting a jet from two opposite ends, either alternately or simul-
taneously, as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.