IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, COMMODES, CHAMBER, AND TOILET UTENSILS, AND OTHER ARTICLES IN EARTHENWARE OR GLASS, AND IN THE MODE OR MEANS OF SECURING STOPPERS, CORKS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE PARTS 03 FITTINGS THEREIN OR THERETO, ALSO IN PROTECTING THE BEARING OR SUPPORTING SURFACES THEREOF
Year: 1868

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Joseph Alfred Nicholson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 8th February 1868, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JOSEPII
ALFRED NICHOLSON, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, in the
City of London, Shipowner, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATERCLOSETS, COMMODES, CHAMBER, AND TOILET UTENSILS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES IN EARTHENWARE OR GLASS, AND IN THE MODE OR MEANS OF SECURING
STOPPERS, CORKS, AND OTHER MOVEABLE PARTS 03 FITTINGS THEREIN OR THERETO,
ALSO IN PROTECTING THE BEARING OR SUPPORTING SURFACES THEREOF," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that I am the first and true inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Alfred Nicholson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
Price8d1

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
The first part of my said Invention relates to an improvement upon
a Patent, No. 2270, in the year of our Lord 1865, and consists in fitting
the valves to and mounting and supporting the seat upon a skeleton
frame, by which mode of fitting and mounting the said valves and seat
the cost of construction is reduced and the frame, seat, and other parts of
the closet, except the pan and pipes, can be separated and packed together
in a compact and portable form. The valves are made self-acting
by the weight of the body on the seat, underneath which levers are
attached; the fulcrums of which are upon the iron frame, giving great
stability to the seat and certainty of action in the valve and regulator
herein-after described. The seat is independent of and removeable from
the frame. Under this seat, the outline of which may be partly circular
or of any other convenient shape, I hang a curtain; or under which seat
a light corrugated metal flexible case (which may also in other arrange-
ments form the support of the seat) may be fitted so as to enclose the
pan and conceal it from view.
The improved valve consists of a shallow inverted cylinder through
which the water passes upwards, the passage being closed and opened
by a rising and falling disc, the rod of which works through a stuffing
box in the service pipe connected to the top of the said cylinder; from
this service pipe a small feed pipe branches and is connected to one
side of a perforated support upon which the seat pivots. The regulator
consists of a cylinder which is closed at the bottom by a screw lid or
cover, and is fitted at the top with a screw packing gland; it is also
formed with a small branch pipe by which it is fixed to the side of the
perforated support before mentioned. The two branch pipes of the valve
and regulator (through which and through the perforation in the support
water is admitted to the regulator) are filled with hemp or other filtering
matter. The interior of the regulator is fitted with an inverted leather
cupped piston connected to a rod working through the gland above
mentioned. A hole in the bottom of this rod is bored out until it passes
the piston and a lateral perforation made therein; into this hole a hollow
screw is fitted through which the water from below the piston can pass
as the latter descends; the size of the opening can be regulated by this
screw or tap so as to increase or diminish the time of the regulator
piston's descent and consequently the continuation of the flow of the

page_text: water into the closet pan. The pivot motion of the seat depresses the
valve piston and at the same time lifts the piston of the regulator, the
latter and the return motion of the seat being prevented by the re-
sistance offered by the descent of the regulator. piston; the water cir-
culating from above and below the piston, passing between the piston
and cylinder downwards, and through the piston rod upwards.
My improvements in commodes and chamber vases consist in forming
the line of pour (by which I mean the line from the side of the orifice.
at which the contents are poured out to the bottom of the vessel per-
pendicularly downwards, though the lower part of the line may incline
inwards but not outwards) vertical or nearly so (however differently.
shaped the other parts may be) to facilitate vacation and cleansing from
the orifice backwards. I place the lip which forms part of the upper.
pan, which
pan is arranged in a hollow and suitable form, to carry the
body and receive water or other fluid which may be poured into it, as
it is intended for permanent service as receiving vase for bedroom
purposes. The opening is left wide, but the contents within are hidden
by a metal or earthenware shell which is loosely suspended therein;
both shell and opening may be covered with a hollow trap provided at
the bottom with a ring of india-rubber to seal it and prevent noise.
I also insert corks or wood in hollow feet or recesses underneath the
commode to break the concussion with the floor (this improvement may
also be applied to wash bowls or other similar articles), and also provide
the parts sat upon with a loose covering of non-conducting material for
invalids and others in cold weather. In the formation of ewers, water
jugs, and other similar vessels, I improve the same by making the line
of pour perpendicular to the supporting plane (or thereabouts as
previously described in commodes). By this improvement, the contents
flow out more freely, especially towards the last, without raising the
centre of gravity so high as required in similar vessels formed in the
ordinary way.
In case of portable washhand basins intended to be
supplied by an ewer and to deliver their contents through an opening
in the stand to a vase below without the trouble of removal, instead
of making the plug hole in the centre as ordinarily done, I make it at
5 the back, opening the way to it by a narrow channel in the rounded
bottom extinding to the edge of the basin, at the end of this channel
the hole and plug are placed with the pull chain attached or not to the
edge of the bason immediately over it, and is thus out of the way and

page_text: contact with the hands when the basin is in use. When the basin is a
fixture intended to be supplied by a tap, in addition to the form described,
I use a flushing system such as is used in watercloset pans, either by
a distributing fan or a suitable hollow rim channel round the upper
edge; and I connect the plug with a hollow tube which also serves as
an overflow pipe as well as a handle. By this arrangement the basin can
always be well sluiced.
The object of my improvements in soap and brush trays is to do away
with the lids and the clatter and trouble thereof, and to close them by
turning them up vertically or round horizontally against the side or
back of the washstand, or to give them the form of a turn cupboard
which also forms a stand for the jug or water bottle to rest upon. When
vertical, I give the bottom (when down, but the front when up) a
rounded form for an easy rolling fall, allowing the soap or brush to come
forward into the shallow tray when down, from the open demi box into
which it falls when up. When horizontal it is of the form of an oblong
or other convenient shaped box wanting one front or side, which being
turned outwards exposes the brushes and soap to use, and when turned
inwards is closed by the back of the washstand becoming the wanting
side. The turn cupboard which may be large enough to carry the
sponge, besides being made in the usual manner of pressing or moulding,
may be formed by being forced through openings of the proper form in
metal dies, and the partitions, top, and bottom luted on. In the same
way I form bottles, jars, flower pots (the latter with loose bottoms
temporarily attached), and door plates. In bottles and jars I put the
neck at the extreme edge of the side of the body for the advantage
of a vertical line of pour. The tops, bottoms, and necks are formed by
cutting discs from cylinders of clay of the proper shape and luting
them on.
The improvement in the stoppers, lids, and other closing media for
the bottles, jars, or other articles consists in making side perforations
in the necks, flanges, or sides, and fitting the same with transverse
pins, corresponding holes being made in the stoppers, closing discs,
or lids.
-
I propose to secure glass bottles by means of similar lateral per-
forations, with ordinary corks, and to facilitate the withdrawing of
such corks I fit the same with a wire staple. the loon of which

page_text: formed upon the cork and admits of the latter being removed by a lever
or pin without destroying it.
The accompanying Drawing is intended to illustrate the manner of
carrying out the said improvements in practice.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a closet shewn as fitted up with the
improved portable frame before mentioned under the head of my first
improvement; Figure 2, a side elevation of the skeleton frame with the
curtain or corrugated screen or support removed; Figure 3 is a front
view of the frame; Figure 4 is a plan shewing the valves, pan, and move-
able lid in position; Figure 5 shows the under side of the said lid;
Figure 6 and 7 enlarged details.
The following reference applies to the whole of the Figures above
enumerated where the index letter is repeated.
[
a, a, are the side frames which may be made of wrought or cast.
metal; b, is the back frame connecting the two side frames together;"
these frames are all made separate from each other, and are fixed
together by nuts and screws b', and fixed to the floor by the screws b
c is a rocking loose seat which may be fitted with a flap or cover in
the usual way if desired; d is a curtain or enclosing screen or case of
thin corrugated metal fitted round the pan in a curved or rectangular
line or lines. By making the corrugated case (as shown by the dotted'
lines d', d', Figure 5) it may be the support for the seat; in that
case I hinge the seat to the back or side, and let it rest at the front
or opposite side upon a stud or fork bearing upon and depressing the
valve lever (herein-after described) by the weight of the body when
the closet is in use. e, e, are the fulcrums fixed to and upon which the
seat c is rocked or tipped; f a hook for lifting the valve lever as the
weight of the body depresses the front and elevates the back of the
lid. The side frames (a) are made with a hook (see a', Figure 6)
under which the metal fulcrums e fixed to the under side of the scat
slide into their. bearings. This peculiar mode of forming these fulcrums
is shewn in longitudinal section at Figure 6. This arrangement allows
the seat to be. removed from the frame when required. When fixing
it in position the hook fis passed under the lever which works the
valves, at the same time that the fulcrums e are passed under the

page_text: hooks a' of the side frames. The valve lever hook f is hung in straps.
so as to swing a little to the right and left.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 shew the mode of constructing the improved
valve and regulator for admitting the water to the pan. Figure 8 is a
side elevation, and Figure 9 a longitudinal section of a valve and
regulator, the latter being separate from the former. a is the valve, and
b, the regulator; c, the supply pipe; d, the pan service pipe; e, the
lever supported on a centre at e'; this lever is raised by the tipping of
the seat, and elevation of the hook f (see Figures 2, 5, and 7) raises the
piston and depresses the piston f. When the pressure is withdrawn
from the seat the lever and valves recover their normal position by the
counterweight f³.
The action of the valve and regulator is as follows;-The piston f³,
being depressed to the position shewn by the dotted lines (Fig. 9), allows
the water to flow in the direction shewn by the arrows, from c through d
into the pan, and when necessary through the opening g and filter g*
into the upper chamber of the regulator; the water in this chamber, as
the piston is raised, passes between the piston and cylinder into the
lower chamber, the cup-shape of the piston prevents it from descending
until the water below it is displaced, and the time of this displacement
is regulated by the size of the aperture g' in the screw plug g³, through
which and through a lateral opening g³ in the piston rod the water can
only pass from the lower to the upper chamber, and thus retards the
closing of the valve while the pan is being flushed.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, and Figure 11 a transverse section of a
combined valve and regulator, both pistons of which are depressed by
pressure upon the seat and regain their normal position by the counter-
weight as before described. a is the supply pipe; b, the pan service
pipe; c, the piston rod; d, the valve piston; e, the regulator piston,
both fixed to the rod c; f is a small air pipe and tap fitted to the bottom
of the regulator when the latter is intended to be supplied with and
operate by air. This valve and regulator act in the following manner;-
Upon the descent of the rod c it carries down the pistons d and e, and
opens a channel through the body of the valve from a to b, while the
air or water will pass from below to above the piston e, between the
latter and the cylinder. g is a small channel through which the water
passes the reverse way as the rod c recovers its normal position by the
counterweight. When it is intended to make this regulator act by air

page_text: the channel
open.
g is omitted or closed, and the tap in the small air pipe f
Figures 12, 13, and 14 are respectively side, front, and back elevations
of my improved chamber closet or commode. a is the pan; b, the
container; c, the aperture in the dividing web, closed by the utensil d,
the bottom of which is grooved and fitted with a circular cylindrical
ring of vulcanized india-rubber which acts as a valve. The aperture c is
also fitted with a moveable incline plate for concealing the interior and
contents of the container from view when the utensil d is removed.
e, e, is the line of pour; f, f, feet of cork, wood, or other material fitted
or fixed to the bottom of the container for preventing injury from con-
cussion with the floor; g, knobs or buttons, to which the two ends of a
strap hare secured for lifting and carrying the commode; i, i, are flat
flanges to receive and support the body; the edges or under portions of
these flanges are perforated or formed with small buttons for securing
coverings of flannel, felt, or other non-conducting material for use of
invalids when required.
Figure 14 is a chamber ewer formed upon my improved principle as
to line of pour. This ewer is also formed so as to require less power for
tipping it and emptying its contents. By grasping the handle at a the
contents may be poured out while the centre of gravity b describes the
line b, c,; it will therefore be seen that the actual lift necessary is
reduced to the height d, e, or versed sine of the arc c, b.
Figure 15 is a transverse section of a vessel intended to take the
place of that shewn at d (Figures 12, 13, and 14), or to be used as a
spittoon. a is a recess formed on one side and fitted with a handle b;
c is an under chamber or container divided by a dipping plate d, which
descends nearly to the bottom of the container c. The object of this
dipping plate is to retard the outflow of the contents of the retainer c,
and prevent spilling when capsized.
Figure 16 is a transverse section of an improved chamber vase fitted
with anti-concussion ring or feet. a is the receiver; b is the container;
c is a twisted plate fitted in the apperture between the former and the
latter for concealing the contents of the container from view, and may
be either fixed or moveable as desired.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of an improved soap, sponge, and
brush tray for chamber or other use, formed without a lid, its contents

page_text: being concealed from view by placing it in the position, here shewn,
against the side of the washstand or table. The dotted lines shew this
article turned round into the reversed position when its contents are
accessible.
Figure 18 is a modification of the foregoing. In the latter case the
article is made to turn over and rest upon its back. The bearing
surfaces of these articles are fitted with anti-concussion material, as
herein-before described.
Figures 19 and 20 are respectively plan and elevation of an improved
toilet and sponge or brush holder formed to open and close by the
revolution of one cylinder within another, a being an opening in the
outer cylinder and b an opening in the inner one, the contents.being
accessible when the openings are even with each other, and closed and
the contents concealed from view when turned into the position here
shown. The top and bottom of the outer cylinder are closed by flat
discs which may be luted on in the manufacture or fixed thereto
afterwards.
In order to lessen the cost of manufacturing these and similar articles
I propose to force the clay through dies, so as to form hollow and solid
cylinders; the former being cut into lengths a, a, and the latter into
discs b, b, as shewn at Figures 21 and 22, and uniting the parts by
luting or otherwise.
Toilet and other jars and pots may thus be made of a cylindrical or
other form by varying the shape of the dies. A jar or pot with a loose
bottom may be formed in this way by cutting a circular groove within
the cylinder, as shewn at Figure 23, and forming a disc, as shewn at
Figure 24, where the projections a, a, are made to enter the groove by
the slots b and be turned therein.
Another mode of fixing the discs which form the bottoms of such jars
consists in making side perforations in the cylinder and corresponding
holes in the peripheries of the discs and inserting pins or wires therein;
this mode of construction is illustrated by Figure 25, where the jar is
also fitted with a lifting lid; in this case a staple a of bent wire or flat
plate is passed through perforations in the lid and held in position by the
pins b, b, extending through the same.
Perfume and other bottles may also be fitted with corks wired in a
similar way, see Figure 26, where a is a staple secured in the cork by

page_text: a transverse pin b, and also secured in the bottle by another pin c. The
staple a serves for withdrawing the cork by lever when the pin c is
removed; the cork can thus be forced into and out of the bottle without
injury.
Figures 27 and 28 shew sections by plates which may be used upon
the lids or doors of the closet frames. These plates are made by forcing
the clay through dies as before described.
Figure 29 shews a longitudinal section of the basin with the recess at
the back. a is the recess; b, the plug.
Figure 31 shews the mode of forming the improved rim for flushing
the whole of the inner surface of the basin. a is the channel, having
a number of perforations or side openings b, b, therein, through which
the water descends into the basin.
Figure 32 shews a fluted cylindrical bottle with the neck at the side,
made of cylinders and discs, manufactured as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Alfred Nicholson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
JOSEPH A. NICHOLSON. (L.S.)
JOSEPH A. NICHOLSON. (L.S.)