IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE SEATS AND COVERS OF PRIVIES, WATERCLOSETS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN WRIGHT of 18 Rutland Terrace, Stamford, Lincolnshire, Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH THE SEATS AND COVERS OF PRIVIES, WATERCLOSETS, AND THE
LIKE," 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:-
This Invention relates to the seats and covers of privies, waterclosets and the
like and it has principally for its object the construction and arrangement of the
same in such an improved manner as to render them comparatively air tight and so
prevent the passage of any smell or deleterious gas from the privy, waterc'oset, or
night commode into the compartment in which it is situated whilst at the same
time, the lid is arranged so as to be self closing.
In carrying out the Invention there is formed round or partly round the usual
hole in the seat of the privy, watercloset and the like a groove or shallow recess
having in it sand or other similar, or a disinfecting substance, or it may have a
rubber lining, The lid or cover which may be of a round, oval, square, or other
convenient and suitable shape, is formed with a flange round it to correspond with
the groove in the seat and when the lid or cover is down and covering the hole in
the seat this flange dips into the material in the groove and forms an effectual seal.
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 representing my improved arrangements. In
these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan of a seat of a water
closet with the lid or cover lifted up and the seat open. Figure 2 is a cross
section taken through the middle of the seat and shewing the lid closed. The seat
is formed of wood or other suitable material in the usual manner except that a
groove 3 is formed partly round the central and usual hole 4 of the seat. This
groove 3 is shown as forming three fourths of a square round the hole 4 and the
lid 5 is formed rectangular in plan to cover the seat. The lid 5 is hinged to a bar,
rail or part at the back of the seat in such a manner that the lid 5, when lifted up
will exactly or nearly attain a vertical position which position is regulated by a
C

page_text: rail 6 fixed to the back wall of the apartment and two adjustable screws 7, by
which arrangement it immediately closes on the rising of the person. The lid is
shown in the drawing as of a length sufficient to project over the front of the seat
(in figure 1, the ornamental beading at the front side is not shown so as the better
to shew the flange) and the lid is of a width to cover the seat between the two side
grooves (3) the remaining space at each side being filled up with cross rails 8 fixed
to the seat. Along each side, extending to the length of the grooves 3 there is
fixed a metal (or wooden) piece, forming a flange 9 on the underside of the lid and
this flange 9 is fitted across the lid 5 at the back to correspond with the groove 3
so as to fit therein when the lid is down.
Along the front underside of the lid 5, a rubber beading, 10, is fixed, which
when the lid is closed fits down closely on the front edge of the seat. This
groove 3 is partly filled with sand or some disinfecting or suitable substance and
when the lid 5 is down on the seat the flange 9 on the lid dips into this substance
in the groove and with the rubber at the front forms a seal and prevents the
passage of deleterious gas. A ventilating pipe for admitting fresh air 11 is fitted
through the seat at one side dipping below the seat a short distance, and an outlet
pipe 12 is fitted at the other side of the seat its lower end being flush with the
underside of the seat.
This arrangement ensures a ventilating action the two pipes being arranged with
their other ends in communication with the open air. In some cases it may, be
desirable to fit the groove 3 with a lining of rubber instead of sand. In some
cases, as for example waterclosets it may be only necessary to fit an outlet pipe, but
for common vaults, cesspools and the like, both inlet and outlet pipes will be
found best.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) The method of sealing or rendering the covers and the seats of privies
and the like comparatively air tight and ventilating the thus enclosed space sub-
stantially as and for the purpose bereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
(2) The arranging of the lid to be self closing substantially as herein before
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.