IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORIES.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Philip Preston, John Theodore Prestige and
Edwin Jamos Preston trading as J Stone & C° of Deptford in the County of
Kent Engineers, and Edwin William De Rusett of Anerley in the County of
Surrey Civil Engineer for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORIES.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Philip Preston,
John Theodore Prestige, Edwin James Preston and Edwin William De Rusett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1883.
FREDERICK PHILIP PRESTON, JOHN THEODORE PRESTIGE and EDWIN JAMES
PRESTON trading as J. Stone and Co of Deptford in the County of Kent, Engineers,
and EDWIN WILLIAM DE RUSETT, of Anerley in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORIES พ
Our present invention refers to improvements upon an invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to us the 2nd October 1880 N° 4013; and whereas
fold up lavatories as now used on board ships and other places have in some
instances been objectionable as becoming offensive especially in hot climates for
want of circulation of air or through neglect or carelessness or other causes; we
have invented certain improvements designed to meet this objection by affording a
readier access of air to the interior and greater facilities for cleansing, also for
making the lavatories more cleanly and efficient and more suitable for use on board
ship and in other places, than heretofore.
One part of our invention particularly applies to fold up lavatories in which the
water supply tank is above the basin when the latter is folded up and not in use,
and in order to make all parts as open to the air and as accessible as possible we
fit the basin in a ring or fork, or support it on a pedestal or other contrivance
which we hinge to lavatory frame or other suitable support so that the basin may
be folded up when not in use.
We support the basin when in use by projections from the frame pressing against
lugs having suitable buffers to deaden the shock when basin is being lowered; or
we support it by inside stays having suitable hinges or chains with or without
buffers and arranged to readily fold with the basin.
We prefer to make the basin of an oval form in plan with an enlarged

page_text: or extended rim having a ledge standing above it so that any water which may be
slopped over the basin may be retained by the extended rim and run back again.
The waste receiver or container is by preference made portable and without a
door to shut it in. It may be emptied by being tilted forward, or by a stop cock
at bottom, or by removing it at will.
The fresh water tank we place above the basin and the supply of water to the
basin is regulated by means of a draw off cock or valve or other suitable appliance,
or the water may be tilted into the basin or from a water jug if preferred. In
order that the steward or other person in charge may readily know the depth of
water in supply tank we fit an indicating arrangement actuated by means of a
float which rises and falls according to the height of the water.
We sometimes fit a shelf or shelves at back of looking glass forming part of
lavatory, which are got at from sides of same; doors may or may not be fitted to
these shelves. We support the looking glass from these shelves, by a universal
joint as preferred, so that it may be moved at will to suit the light.
We sometimes hinge the glass to the shelves so that it may be adjusted to suit
height of observer or we fix it if so desired. Sometimes the shelves are omitted
according to requirements, or a locker is sometimes substituted. To support the
supply tank, basin, receiver and other fittings we make or provide a foundation or
case having sides but no front except over the parts above the basin or when we
fit a locker for chambers underneath receiver, all so arranged that air can circulate
freely through every available part.
In another arrangement of our fold up lavatories we use a metal or wood back
having metal or wood rings or brackets so that the supply tank can be readily
unshipped, the basin folded up and the receiver emptied, also rings or brackets for
toilet articles, the looking glass we arrange to swivel so as to suit the light and
also to suit height of observer.
We sometimes arrange the supply tank and receiver, in the form of a vase, and
make them all to unship. We use either one or more goblets for portability for the
above purposes, and prefer to make them oval in horizontal section.
We sometimes fit a fold up basin as before described to be filled from a supply
tank attached to say a ship's bulkhead by a cock or other suitable means and
discharge the soiled water into a receiver similarly attached, but to which wo
prefer to fit a binged or portable lid to hide the dirty water, the lid being arranged
so that it will be no obstruction to the tilting of basin or cleaning of internal
receiver or prevent the necessary circulation of air.
•
We sometimes fit two or more fold up basins on the same frame with corresponding
supply tank or tanks and receivers, also looking glasses and brackets for toilet
articles, so as to make a double or multiple lavatory.
We make brackets to support water bottles and tumblers so that they may be
placed on them either way up. This is done by having a ring or rings having a
rim dished down with a hole in centre, the dished rim supporting say the
tumblers when inverted and when placed mouth up it will be supported by its
tapered bottom passing through the hole until the taper of the tumbler fills the
hole.
The water bottle is supported in the reverse manner the neck passing through
the hole until the shoulder fills it.
We sometimes dispense with the supply tank and receiver when water is laid on
and discharge pipes are fitted; but we arrange the basin to fold up and fit looking
glass and supports for water bottle and tumblers and soap dishes as described all
being planned to afford free circulation of air

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Philip Preston, John Theodore Prestige, Edwin James
Preston and Edwin William. De Rusett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th October 1883.
FREDERICK PHILIP PRESTON JOHN THEODORE PRESTIGE and EDWIN JAMES
PRESTON trading as J. Stone & C° of Deptford in the County of Kent Engineers
and EDWIN WILLIAM DE RUSETT of Anerley in the County of Surrey Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAVATORIES
"
Our present invention refers to Improvements upon our Invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to us the 2nd October 1880 No 4013; and whereas
fold up lavatories as now used on board ships and other places have in some
instances been objectionable as becoming offensive especially in hot climates for
want of circulation of air through neglect or carelessness or other causes, we have
invented certain improvements designed to meet this objection by affording a readier
access of air to the interior and greater facilities for cleansing, also for making the
lavatories more cleanly and efficient and more suitable for use on board ship and in
other places, than heretofore.
One part of our invention particularly applies to fold up lavatories in which the
water supply tank is above the basin when the latter is folded up and not in use,
and in order to make all parts as open to the air and as accessible as possible we fit
the basin in a ring or fork, or support it on a 'pedestal or other contrivance which
we hinge to lavatory frame or other suitable support so that the basin may be
folded up when not in use.
We support the basin when in use by projections from the frame pressing against
lugs having suitable buffers to deaden the shock when basin is being lowered, or
we support it by inside stays having suitable hinges or chains with or without
buffers and arranged to readily fold with the basin. We prefer to make the basin
of an oval form in plan with an enlarged or extended rim having a ledge so that
any water that may be slopped over the basin may be retained by the rim and run
back again.
The waste receiver or container is by preference made portable and without a
door to shut it in. It may be emptied by being tilted forward. from the back or
side or by a stop cock at bottom, or by removing it at will.
The fresh water tank we place above the basin, and the supply of water to the
basin is regulated by means of a draw off cock or valve or other suitable appliance,
We
or the water may be tilted into the basin or from a water jug if preferred.
sometimes fit a float or similar contrivance to automatically indicate height of water
in tank.
We sometimes fit a shelf or shelves at back of looking glass forming part of
lavatory, which are got at from sides of same; doors may or may not be fitted to
these shelves. We support the looking glass from these shelves, by a universal
joint preferred, so that it may be moved at will to suit the light.
We sometimes hinge the glass to the shelves so that it may be adjusted to suit
height of observer or we fix it if so desired.
Sometimes the shelves are omitted according to requirements, or a locker is
sometimes substituted. To support the supply tank, basin, receiver and other
fittings we make or provide a foundation or case having sides but by preference no
front except over the parts above the basin, or when we fit a locker for chambers.
underneath receiver all so arranged that air can circulate freely through every
available part.

page_text: In another arrangement of our fold up lavatories we use a metal or wood back
having metal or wood rings or brackets so that the supply tank can be readily
unshipped, the basin folded up, and the receiver emptied, also rings on brackets for
toilet articles; the looking glass we arrange to swivel so as to suit the light and also
the height of observer.
We sometimes arrange the supply tank and receiver each in the form of a vase
and make them all to unship. We use either one or more goblets for portability
for the above purposes and prefer to make them oval in horizontal section.
We sometimes fit a fold up basin as before described to be filled from a supply
tank (attached to say a ships bulkhead) by a cock or other suitable means, and
discharge the soiled water into a receiver similarly attached, but to which we prefer
to fit a hinged or portable lid or grating to hide the dirty water, the lid being
arranged so that it will be no obstruction to the tilting of basin or cleaning of
internal receiver or prevent the necessary circulation of air.
We sometimes fit two or more fold up basins on the same frame with corresponding
supply tank or tanks and receivers, also looking glasses and brackets for toilet
articles, so as to make a double or multiple lavatory.
We make brackets to support water bottles and tumblers so that they may be
placed on them either way up. This is done by having a ring or rings having a
rim dished down with a hole in centre, the dished rim supporting say the tumblers
when inverted and when placed mouth up it will be supported by its tapered
bottom passing through the hole until the taper of the tumbler fills the hole.
The water bottle is supported in the reverse manner the neck passing through
the hole until the shoulder fills it.
We sometimes dispense with the supply tank and receiver when water is laid on
and discharge pipes are fitted, but we arrange the basin to fold up and fit looking
glass and supports for waterbottle and tumblers and soap dishes as described all
being planned to afford free circulation of air.
In order that our invention may be more fully understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a front and Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of one form
of fold up lavatory constructed according to our invention. Figure 3 is a side
elevation partly in section of a similar fold up lavatory only shewing the supply
tank and waste water receiver supported by shelves instead of by lugs as in the
arrangement shown at Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a front elevation of a fold up
lavatory wherein the water supply is contained in two vases which are hung on
pivots so as to allow the contents to be easily transferred to the funnel for con-
veyance to the basins as may be required. Figure 5 is a front elevation and
Figure 6 a sectional elevation of a fold up lavatory wherein the sides are partially
enclosed and the front with the exception of supply tank left open. Figure 7 is a
similar sectional elevation showing the looking-glass and shelves differently
arranged from the last mentioned arrangement; the looking glass may be hinged
at the side instead of at the botton should it be more convenient to get at the
shelves from the front than from the sides. Figure 8 shows in sectional elevation a
lavatory enclosed with the exception of the shelves over the supply and provided
with openings for ventilation at the sides. Figure 9 is sectional elevation of a
lavatory having the sink and receiver in one Similar letters of reference refer to
like parts in all the Figures.
A is the water supply tank; B is the basin; B¹ is the ring or fork for supporting
the basin B; F the lavatory frame or support; B are the projections for supporting
the basin when in use; CC are the lugs on the frame for supporting basin when
in use; C are the buffers for deadening the shock; D is the waste water receiver,
GG are the looking glasses, I universal joint; F is the foundation or case;
E E are the shelves; A is the pipe leading from supply to basin; A³ is the tap,
KK are the tumblers and L L are the bottles fitted into holes or rings M Figure 4
also seen at Figures 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The water supply tank or tanks A is or are provided in some cases with lid or

page_text: stopper A' as shown at Figures 5 and 6, 7 and 8 and arranged above the fold up
basin B. This latter in order that the air may be as accessible as possible to all
parts is fitted or supported in a ring B¹ which is hinged to the lavatory frame For
backing piece Figures 5 and 6 by two pivots B² or to a backing piece F Figure 2
(or it might rest on a hinged pedestal or other support not shown in the drawings);
when the basin B is folded up out of use as shown at Figures 2, 6 and 8 it is
directly below the supply tank A. A* is the pipe from the supply tank A, and A³
is a tap thereon for supplying water to the basin B. We support the basin when
in use by projections B³ from the ring frame B' pressing against lugs C which lugs
may be made separately as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 or which project from
and form part of the bracket to which the basin is attached by means of the
band B'; C are the india rubber or other elastic buffers to deaden the shock when
the basin B is being lowered.
•
Sometimes these elastic buffers are formed of a strip of india rubber interposed
between the band of basin and lug or supporting bracket. Or we may support
the basin in the lowered position by means of inside stays having suitable hinges
or chains with or without buffers or equivalent elastic parts and arranged to fold
readily with the basin B. We prefer to make the basin as shown that is of an
oval form in plan and with an enlarged or extended rim having a ledge or rim
so that any water which may be slopped over the basin can be retained by the
rim or ledge and run back again into the basin. The basins are kept up when
folded by a suitable catch, of the automatic type preferred, as for example that
shown at B*.
The waste water receiver D is by preference and as shown made portable or
detachable and without the usual door to shut it in. It is pivotted at D' D¹.
except in the cases as shown at Figures 3 and 4 where it is supported on a shelf D³
and steadied either by two lugs D* Figure 3 or by the neck of sink F1 Figure 4
with an elastic band F2 fitted to prevent any jingling between the jug D and the
neck F² of the sink. It may be emptied by the mouth or aperture D³ when being
tilted forward from the back as at D Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 or from the side similar
to tank A Figure 4 or by a stop cock that may be fitted at bottom, or it may be
removed bodily from its pivots D' being raised out of their bearings and the
contents thereby discharged to any convenient place. F¹ shows the sink formed
as a continuation of or fitted to the lavatory frame F as shown at Figures 1, 2. 3, 4
and also at Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The frame or foundation plate F which supports the supply tank A. the basin B
and the waste receiver D is as shown at Figures 5, 6 and 7 for the purpose of
ventilation made as open as possible and hence has only side bars or posts except
over the parts above the basin B and where as here shown shelves are provided
above the supply cistern, and where it is desired to fit a cupboard or locker beneath
the receiver D, the middle portion of front of body of the frame F being thus
omitted or cut away wherever possible so that the air can circulate freely, through
every available part.
We sometimes as shown at Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 fit shelves E E at the back of a
looking glass G forming part of the lavatory; these shelves are reached from
apertures in the sides as at L L Figures 6 and 8 and may be used for brushes and
combs; doors may or may not be fitted to these shelves. We support the looking
glass G from these shelves by a kind of universal joint I as shown at Figures 2. 3, 6
and 8, and at Figure 7 the looking glass is shown hinged at bottom and provided
with a quadrant arrangement for adjusting its position. We may also enclose the
front of lavatory as shown at Q and Q¹ in Figure 8 and provide openings for
ventilation at the sides or other convenient parts.
At Figure 4 the water tank is shown consisting of two vases fitted for tilting
the water into the funnel-shaped mouth piece H for the supply pipe A* which is
fixed to the bulk head and has its lower end continued forward so as to convey
the water into the basin B.
In Figure 9 the lavatory is attached to say a ship's bulkhead and furnished with

page_text: water by means of the supply cock S. The basin may be attached to the foundation
plate in any of the modes previously named. The sink and the container D are
shown formed in one and provided with a portable lid or grating D³ to hide the
dirty water and so arranged that it will be no obstruction to the tilting of the
basin or cleaning of the inside of receiver D or prevent the necessary circulation
of air.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed We declare that we claim as our aforesaid "Improvements
in lavatories,"
First The particular construction and arrangement of fold up lavatory
together with any mere modification thereof substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustratod with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
•
Second-The construction and arrangement of lavatory substantially as and
for the purposes described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
Third-In a fold up lavatory the combination of the partially enclosed sides
and front with arrangements for basin supply fittings, waste receiver, looking glass
and other fittings all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings
Fourth-The construction, arrangement and combination of fold up lavatory
substantially as herein before described and illustrated with reference to Figure 8
of the accompanying drawings.
•
Fifth-The combination of parts forming the fold up lavatory substantially
as described and illustrated, with reference to Figure 9.
Sixth-The arrangement for supporting basin of a fold up lavatory by means
of a fork band or strap wholly or partially around it, so dispensing with wood or
metal slab or other support substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in drawings Figures 1 to 7.
Seventh The combination of a folding lavatory basin with a supply tank
above it when folded up; and a portable or tilting receiver below it, so arranged
that whether the lavatory is opened or closed, there is a free current of air to every
part, substantially as herein before illustrated and described
In witness whereof I the said Frederick Philip Preston, for myself and on behalf
of the said John Theodore Prestige, Edwin James Preston and Edwin William
De Rusett have hereunto set my hand and seal this Third day of October in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three:
FP PRESTON (L.S.)