Improvements in Apparatus or Utensils for Supplying Water to Wash-hand Basins, which said Apparatus is also applicable to Lavatories.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Utensils for Supplying Water to
Wash-hand Basins, which said Apparatus is also applicable
to Lavatories.
THOMAS WOOD BENNETT and WILLIAM DUNN (trading as Dunn, Bennett & Co.),
Royal Victoria Pottery, Hill Top, Burslem, County of Staffordshire, Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This our invention has reference to improved means or apparatus for supplying
water to a basin or lavatory, without the necessity of lifting a heavy jug or ewer,
as is usually the custom.
In carrying our invention into practice we construct the water container in the
form of a swan, or other bird or animal, of or from earthenware, glass metal or
other suitable material, and of any suitable size. The body of the water container
which we make hollow for the reception of water, is swung or suspended by means
of projections, attached to or formed on each side of the said water container, which
said projections rest in or on ornamental uprights or supports attached to a base, or
fixed or fitted to the wash hand stand or lavatory top, and above the top of the
basin.
The top portion of the back of the water container, whether made in the form of
a bird, or animal being left open or cut away so as to facilitate the placing of water
in the container.
In the breast, mouth or neck of a container made in the form of a bird or animal
we form an opening or aperture of any suitable shape and size, through which,
when the water container is tilted forward on its side bearings by pulling the head
or neck of the bird or animal shaped container forward, the water issues or flows
from into the basin or bowl, and when let go or released, the weight of the container
causes the said container to resume its normal position. A vertically mounted
stop-piece, fitted with india rubber or other suitable material is fitted or fixed to
the wash hand stand, lavatory top, or to the base or stand on which the said con
tainer is mounted, and beneath the lower back part or portion of the bird or animal
shaped water container, to prevent damage to, or lessen concussions, when the said
water container is suddenly released or let go, so as to return to its normal position.
Dated this 19th day of September 1890.
JOHN NEWTON,
Agent to Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Utensils for Supplying Water to
Wash-hand Basins, which said Apparatus is also applicable
to Lavatories.
THOMAS WOOD BENNETT and WILLIAM DUNN (trading as Dunn, Bennett & Co.),
Royal Victoria Pottery, Hill Top, Burslem, Staffordshire, Manufacturers, 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:-
This invention has reference to improved means or apparatus for supplying water
to a wash-hand or lavatory basin, and the object of our invention is to obviate the
necessity of lifting a ewer or jug containing water each time it is required to place
or pour water into a wash-hand or lavatory basin.

page_text: In carrying our invention into practice we form by moulding or casting water
containers, which have the configuration of a bird, animal or fish of or from
earthenware, china, glass, metal or other suitable material or materials, and of any
suitable size and capacity.
The body of the water container which we make hollow for the reception of
water, is suspended or supported by means of a projection of suitable shape and
size, attached to or formed on each side of the water container, which said pro-
jections rest in or on suitable uprights or supports above the basin top, the lower
ends of the said supports being fitted or fixed into a base made of or from marble,
wood, metal or other suitable material or materials of any convenient shape and
size, or the said uprights or supports may be fixed or fitted into the wash hand
stand or lavatory top, the projections which act as trunnions being formed on, fitted
or fixed to the body of the water container in such a position that the weight of the
container, or the container and its contents, will keep the container in its normal
position above the basin top.
The top portion of the back of the water container, whether made in the form of
a bird, animal or fish being left open or cut away to facilitate the placing of water
in the container.
In the breast, mouth or neck of a container whether made in the form of a bird,
animal or fish we form an opening or aperture of any suitable shape and size,
through which aperture when the water container is pulled downward by the head
or neck of the bird, animal or fish shaped container, the water issues or flows
through into the basin or bowl below, and when let go or released the weight of the
container, or the weight of the container and its contents will cause the said water
receptacle or container to resume its normal position. An upright or pillar having
its top end mounted or fitted with india-rubber, cloth, leather or other suitable
material is fitted or fixed at its lower end to the wash hand stand, lavatory top, or
to the base or stand on which the said container is mounted, beneath the lower back
part or portion of the bird, animal or fish shaped water holder or container, to
prevent damage to, and lessen concussions when the said water container is pushed
back, released or suddenly let go, when it falls against and rests upon the top of
the said back pillar or support.
In order that our invention may be more readily understood and explained in
detail, we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings on which letters of reference
are marked.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
On the drawing hereunto annexed we have shewn a perspective view of a water
container about one fifth of the full size, made from earthenware, and having the
form or configuration of a swan, and supported by metal trunnions which are fixed
one in each side of the body of the said container and project a suitable distance
from each side, so that the water container is supported by the said trunnions
resting on a bearing formed at the top end of a vertical column or upright fixed in
a suitable position at each side of the container, the said side vertical supports, and
vertical back support being fitted or fixed to a base or stand of earthenware.
We would have it understood that we can if desired construct the containers from
china, glass, marble, metal, cement,, composition or other suitable material or
materials, and the vertical supports and base of or from similar material to that of
which the container is made, or the said supports and base may be made of marble,
wood, metal or other suitable material or materials, and the trunnions may be
formed of or from one bar or tube of metal passing through the body of the con-
tainer and projecting a suitable distance from each side of the container, and the
said side vertical and back support may be fitted or fixed at their lower ends into
the wash hand stand or lavatory top, or into the back of the wash-hand stand or
wall adjacent thereto.
It will be easily understood that when it is required to pour water from the
container a into the wash-hand basin b, it is only necessary to pull the head or neck

page_text: of the said bird shaped water container or holder downward, which action causes.
the said container to partially rotate on its trunnions c in their respective bearings
at the top ends of the vertical uprights or supports d, d, when any water there may
be in the said holder or container will issue or flow out through the orifice or
aperture a formed in and through the breast 3 of the said container into the said
basin b.
The said side vertical supports d, d and back support being fixed or fitted at
their lower ends into a base of earthenware of suitable shape and size.
On reference to Royle's Specification No. 9613 of 1889 we find that when it is
required to obtain a supply of water from his elongated shaped water container, the
said container and its contents have to be lifted and tilted forward by means of the
handle fitted at the back of the container, which action causes one or more claws or
hook shaped projections on the front side of the said container to bear upon a
horizontal bar in front of same, or upon the top edge or rim of the basin to be used,
and when it is necessary to place water in the said elongated container, the water
must be poured or passed into the same through the same hopper mouth or aperture,
by or through which the water is emptied or poured out therefrom.
But by this our invention, we entirely obviate the exertion required in lifting and
tilting forward the container and its contents, as required in connection with Royle's
elongated water container, as the weight of our improved water holder or container
is borne by the trunnions & on each side of same, beside which we fill or pour water
into our containers through an opening or aperture of formed in the back of the
container, so that water is placed in, or poured into our bird, animal or fish shaped
water holders or containers through one aperture, and emptied out of, or poured
therefrom into a basin or the like, through another aperture formed in the breast,
neck or mouth of our improved containers, according as to whether it is made in the
form of a bird, animal or fish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1st. The construction of water holders or containers such as described, in the
shape, form or configuration of a bird or animal by moulding, casting or carving of
or from earthenware, china, marble, glass, metal, composition, cement or other
suitable material or materials, and of any suitable size and capacity, having a
trunnion of suitable shape and size formed on or fixed to each side of the body of
the container, in such a position that the weight of the container alone, or the
weight of the container and its contents will cause the said container to retain its
normal position, when the said container is supported by its trunnions resting in or
on suitable bearings above the top edge of the basin, and formed in or on suitably
shaped vertical side supports, which said side supports, and the back support are
fitted or fixed at their lower ends into a base or platform made of any suitable
material or materials of any convenient shape and size, the water being placed in
such holders or containers through a hole or aperture of any convenient shape and
size formed in and through the back or other suitable portion of such containers,
and poured out from such containers through a hole or aperture of suitable shape
and size formed either through the breast, neck, or mouth of the said bird or animal
shaped water holders or containers, into a basin or the like for ablutionary purposes,
and operated in the manner as herein substantially described and set forth."
2nd. The construction of water holders or containers such as described in the
shape, form or configuration of a bird or animal by moulding, casting or carving of
or from earthenware, china, marble, glass, metal, composition, cement or other
suitable material or materials. and of any suitable size and capacity, having a
trunnion of suitable shape and size formed on or fixed to each side of the body of
the container, in such a position that the weight of the container alone, or the
weight of the container and its contents will cause the said container to retain its
normal position, when the said container is supported by its trunnions resting in or

page_text: on
on suitable bearings above the top edge of the basin, and formed in or
suitably shaped vertical side supports, which said side supports, and the back
support are fitted or fixed at their lower ends into a wash hand stand or lavatory
top of convenient shape and size, the water being placed in such holders or con-
tainers through a hole or aperture of convenient size and shape formed in and
through the back or other suitable portion of such containers, and poured out from
such containers through a hole or aperture of suitable shape and size formed either
through the breast, neck or mouth of such bird or animal shaped water holders or
containers, into a basin or the like for ablutionary purposes, and operated in the
manner as herein substantially described and set forth.
3rd. The construction of water holders or containers such as described, in the
shape, form or configuration of a bird or animal by moulding, casting or carving of
or from earthenware, china, marble, glass, metal, composition, cement or other
suitable material or materials, and of any suitable size and capacity, having a
trunnion of suitable shape and size formed on or fixed to each side of the body of
the container, in such a position that the weight of the container alone, or the
weight of the container and its contents will cause the said container to retain its
normal position, when the said container is supported by its trunnions resting in or
on suitable bearings above the top edge of the basin, and formed in or on suitably
shaped brackets or the like, fixed on or attached to a wall or the like adjacent to
the wash hand stand or lavatory top, the water being placed in such holders or
containers through a hole or aperture of convenient shape and size formed in and
through the back or other suitable portion of such containers, and poured out from
such containers through a hole or aperture of convenient size and shape formed
either through the breast, neck or mouth of such bird or animal shaped water
holders or containers, into a basin or the like for ablutionary purposes, and operated
in the manner, as herein substantially described and set forth.
Dated this 19th day of March 1891.
JOHN NEWTON,
Agent for Applicants.