Improvements in Lavatories.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lavatories.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve and modify the construction of
certain classes of lavatories so as to render them more convenient in use, more
economical as regards the quantity of water used, and more suitable for some
purposes.
In some modifications to which the present invention relates there is a continued
flow of water across each basin from the front towards the back where a waste gutter
or other outlet is formed the water overflowing over the back part which is higher
than the middle part of the basin. Or the parts may be arranged for the water to
flow through the basin in any other convenient direction or manner. A draining
passage is provided for completely emptying the water from the deepest part of the
basin such passage being provided with a valve or plag for closing it when it is
wished to retain water in the basin.
A water supply valve is arranged in connection with the lavatory, or in connection
with each basin or compartment of a series, each supply valve being controlled by
means of a hinged footboard on which the user of the lavatory stands, such footboard
being arranged so as when depressed to act directly or through lever connections so
as to open the valve.
Instead of the footboard arrangement, treadles may be arranged to act on the
water supply valves; and when in any case there are separate valves for hot and cold
water the treadles are arranged near together so that the user can with one foot act
on both or either. A third treadle may be provided for the waste or discharge outlet;
and in this case the treadle is arranged to remain in the epen position by a trigger
which falls into a locking position, and which can be released when desired by a touch
of the foot. The open-keeping trigger may be applied in connection with any of the
valves.
Dated thie Twants ninth day of Laivan 1905
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
I, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, 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, that is to say -
My said invention has for its object to improve and modify the construction of
certain classes of lavatories so as to render them more convenient in use, more

page_text: economical as regards the quantity of water used and more suitable for some
purposes.
The invention comprises an improved combination of the various parts of a lavatory
the most important feature of which is the application of one or more treadles or
hinged footboards for admitting and discharging water to and from the basin.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and showing several examples of lavatories as made according
to my invention.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a vertical section of one example of my improved
lavatory, Figure, 2, being a vertical section of a part of the same, slightly modified.
Figures, 3, and 4, are respectively an elevation and a vertical section, as at right
angles to each other, of a second example of the improved lavatory.
Figures, 5, and 6, are elevations, as at right angles to each other, of a third example
of the improved lavatory.
Figure, 7, is a perspective view of a detail of the example of lavatory shown in
Figures, 5, and 6.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated..
In the lavatories shown in the drawings there is, when in use, a continued flow of
water across each basin, A, from the front to the back where a waste gutter or other
outlet, B, is formed the water overflowing over the back part which is higher than the
middle part of the basin. The parts however might be arranged for the water to flow
through the basin, A, in any other convenient direction or mauner. A small draining
passage, C, is provided for completely emptying the water from the deepest part of
the basin, A, which passage may be provided with a valve or plug, D, as shown in
Figure, 2, for closing it when it is wished to retain water in the basin. The
passage, C, communicates with a discharge pipe, E, which may be horizontal, as
shown in Figure, 1, or vertical, as shown in Figures, 3, 4, 5, and 6, according as is
most convenient in dealing with single or combi.ed lavatories.
A water supply valve, F, is arranged in connection with the lavatory or in
connection with each basin or compartment of a series, each supply valve being
controlled by means of a hinged footboard, G, or equivalent on which the user of
the lavatory stands, such footboard being arranged to act, when depressed, directly
or through lover connections, so as to open the valve. The arrangement is susceptible
of variation thus for example in the lavatory shown in Figure, 1, the supply valve, F,
is placed at the front of the lavatory and below the floor level, the footboard, G, being
hinged to the base, H, on which the lavatory stands and acting by a projection, J, on
the spindle, L, of the supply valve.
Instead of the footboard arrangement treadles may be arranged to act on the water
supply valves as for example in the lavatories shown in Figures, 3, 4, 5, and 6, in
which separate supply valves, F, for hot and cold water are provided. In these
lavatories the treadles, M, are arranged near together so that the user can with one
foot act on both or either, the treadles being binged to plates, N, on the wall or
framing to which the lavatories are fixed, and acting through links, P, and levers, Q,
on the spindles, L, of the supply valves, F. The levers, Q, may operate in opening
the valves, F, against the action of springs, R, as shown in Figures, 3, and 4.
A third treadle, S, may as shown in Figures, 5, 6, and 7, be provided for the waste
or discharge outlet, B; and in this case the treadle is arranged to remain in the
open position by a trigger, T, which falls into a locking position, and which can be
released when desired by a touch of the foot. The treadle, S, is connected by a
lever, U, and a link, V, to the valve, D, in the discharge outlet, B, and on being
pressed downwards to open the valve, prongs on the trigger, T, enter between the
back end of the treadle and the plate, X, to which it is attached. On the trigger, T,
being raised by the foot clear of the treadle, S, the valve, D, closes by its own
weight. The open-keeping trigger, T, may be applied in connection with any of the
valves.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved lavatory
substantially as hereinbefore described with preference to Figures, 1, and 2, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved lavatory
substantially as herein before described with preference to Figures, 3, and 4, of the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved lavatory
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7, of the
accompanying drawings.
4. In lavatories, providing one or more hinged footboards or treadles arranged to
act directly or through lever connections on the water supply valve or valves
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
5. In lavatories, a treadle acting through lever connections on a valve in the
discharge outlet of the basin and capable of being locked by a trigger or equivalent
in the open position of the valve substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of October 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.