Year: 1888

page_text: ALFRED MACONOCHIE, 50 Durley Road Stamford Hill N. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a well known fact that many most loathsome and filthy diseases have been
contracted by the most moral and upright persons through having to use a public
closet, and it is to prevent this that I have invented my improved sheet described
below.
My invention consists of a sheet or cover termed "Macs Sanitary Sheet" a
portion of which is removed somewhat corresponding in size and position to the
opening in the water or other closet frame or basin. The construction of the sheet
or covering involves a protector which falls automatically to prevent contact between
the generative organs and the seat or basin, the said protector not being of sufficient
length to dip into the water & thus by capilliary attraction communicato damp or
disease to the person using the closet.
The sheet or covering may be manufactured of paper, cardboard, rubber, cloth,
metal wood or any suitable substance and may be medicated to act as a disinfectant,
it may be simply placed on or over the seats of closets, or affixed thereto by means
of pegs, cement, clips or the like.
The sheet or covering may have an opening cut out or made if necessary to allow
the closet occupant to use the handle of the water or other closet and the con-
struction of the said sheet may be altered to suit any new pattern of water or other
closet.
For the purpose of a register or check when used in the Lavatories of Railway
Companies, Hotels, Boats, or other public places the sheet or covering may be marked
in any manner, to be defaced, detached, or otherwise constitute a register or check
when used, to fill the double duty of checking the number of sheets used and also
shewing whether the sheet or covering has been used.

page_text: I ALFRED MACONOCHIE of 50 Darley Road, Stamford Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Clerk, 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:-
It is a well known fact that many most loathsome and filthy diseases have been
contracted by the most moral and upright persons through having to use a public
closet and it is to prevent this that I have invented my improved sheet described
below.
My invention consists of a sheet or cover, a portion of which is removed somewhat
corresponding in size and position to the opening in the water or other closet frame
or basin. The construction of the Sheet or covering involves a protector hereinafter
called a flap or tongue which falls automatically to prevent contact between the
generative organs and the seat or basin, the said protector not being of sufficient
fength to dip into the water and thus by capillary attraction communicate damp or
disease to the person using the closet.
The sheet or covering may be manufactured of paper, cardboard, rubber, cloth, or
any suitable substance and may be waterproofed and also medicated to act as a disin-
fectant, it may be simply placed on or over the seats of closets or affixed thereto by
means of pegs, cement, clips or the like.
The sheet or covering may have an opening cut out or made if necessary to allow
the closet occupant to use the handle of the water or other closet, and the con-
struction of the said sheet may be altered to suit any new pattern of water or other
closet.
For the purpose of a register or check when used in the lavatories of railway com-
panies, hotels, boats, or other public places, the sheet or covering may be marked in any
manner to he defaced, detached or otherwise constitute a register or check when used
to fill the double duty of checking the number of sheets used and also shewing
whether the sheet or covering has been used.
The invention will be well understood by referring to the accompanying drawing,
which shews a plan of my improved sheet or covering for water or other closets.
The sheet A is provided with an aperture or opening B of the size and shape of the
opening in the top of the closet frame or basin. A Hap or tongue is left attached
to the sheet A when the aperture B is cut therein. The sheet is placed upon the
closet seat with the tongue or flap C at the front, which said flap by its weight at once
hangs down within the pan or basin of the closet, the part between the points 1)
and D conforming to the curved shape of the front of the closet opening, and thus
contact between the generative organs and the front of the seat or the pan of the
closet is effectually prevented by the interposition of the flap C.
The tongue or flap C is of such a size as not to dip into the water, should there be
any, in the bottom of the closet, when it is hanging down therein, so that water may
not be conveyed by capillary attraction to the generative organs.

page_text: I profer to manufacture the sheet or covering A of paper, as being cheap and
specially applicable for displaying advertisements, and a material which will readily
adapt itself to different shapes, hence the front of the flap C will easily conform to
the shape of the front of the front curve of the closet opening.
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 :-
The construction of a Sheet or covering with a flap forming part of the said sheet
and with an aperture of similar shape and size to the closet opening substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office,
54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.