IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS OF WATERCLOSETS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Isidore Darribet, of Dax, in the Empire of
France, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS OF
WATERCLOSETS."
Sealed the 3rd October 1865, and dated the 5th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Isidore Darribet.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1865.
I, JEAN ISIDORE DARRIBET, of Dax, in the Empire of France, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEATS OF WATERCLOSETS," to be as follows:-
The ordinary watercloset seat is usually pierced with a round hole varying
in size, but always inconvenient and often dangerous. The distance of the
tangent parallel to the front is on an average 4 inches backwards.
In the new method which forms the subject of my Invention the seat is of
an elliptical shape. The two circumferences are united by a pear-shaped neck
of more or less diameter according to circumstances or requirement. The
tangent of the small curve projects from the front of the seat about 4 inches,
more or less, and by this means men can make water with ease. The

page_text: neck of the opening comes conveniently between the legs, and finally the
ejection taking place perpendicularly the matter falls into the pan or receiver,
and females leave behind them an irreproachable cleanliness, which permits
them easily to satisfy the wants of nature without recourse to numberless
precautions often difficult, and always disagreeable, while males will find not
only a convenience hitherto unknown, but also a cleanliness now very rare,
and which in the case of ordinary seats they are constantly impairing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Isidore Darribet in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
ISIDORE DARRIBET, of Dax, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, send
.greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of, April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Jean Isidore Darribet, Her special licence that I, the said Jean Isidore
Darribet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Jean Isidore Darribet, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEATS OF WATERCLOSETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Jean Isidore Darribet, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Isidore Darribet, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, and

page_text: to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon, Figure 1 being a plan
view of my improved watercloset seat, and Figure 2 an elevation in section
taken at A, B, Figure 1.
.
The seat of the watercloset in actual use is usually pierced with a round
hole varying in size, but always incommodious and often dangerous. The
distance of the tangent parallel to the front is on an average four inches
backwards.
My improved seat is of an elliptical shape, the two circumferences being joined
by a pear-shaped neck of more or less diameter according to circumstances
or requirement. The tangent of the small curve on the fore part is on the
contrary in projection from the front of the seat about 4 inches, more or less,
also according to circumstances. By this means men can pass their urine with
ease, the neck or beak of the opening coming conveniently between their legs,
and finally the ejection taking place perpendicularly, the matter falls at once
into the pan, so that a female following a man finds an irreproachable clean-
liness which permits her easily to satisfy the wants of nature without having
recourse to numberless precautions often difficult, and always disagreeable.
This form of seat will be found to satisfy every requirement, and it may be
adapted to nightstools, ornamented as may be desired, and to arm chairs for
the use of sick people, in this case the orifice will be of a reduced size, and
be surmounted by a moveable frame stuffed and covered with cloth, linen,
leather, or other material. This useful improvement may also be applied to
ordinary waterclosets, and after having been used this moveable padded frame
can be suspended to the side of the closet or of the paper holder. This addi-
tion is indispensable for delicate and chilly persons. This method may also
be usefully applied to public privies, those of schools, barracks, railways, and
others, where evacuations of every sort are multiplied, it will only be neces-
sary to lengthen the neck of the opening, and conduct it perpendicularly or
obliquely over the pit, see C, D, C, E, of the section, Figure 2. The pan
used with my seat is of elliptical shape, with or without hydraulic trap, and
pierced or not according to its application. The lid may be moveable or fixed
at the back by hinges, and the under side may be lined with a sheet of lead or
zinc, and be provided with an elastic padding, which will greatly contribute
to render the watercloset inodorous.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be carried into practical effect, I desire it to be under-
stood that I claim as of my Invention, the advancement of the pan in front of
the seat of the watercloset, substantially as berein described and illustrated on

page_text: the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, the other details being simply consequent
upon my improved shape of seat.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Isidore Darribet, have hereunto set
Hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our
my
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
J. I. DARRIBET. (L.S.)