US1454112A - Bath support - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1923- 1,454,112

R. GRAVES BATH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 15. 1922 www AfA w ,a

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REBECCA GRAVES, or sPoxANE, wAsHmq'roN.

BATH SUPPORT.

Application led December 15, 1922. Serial No. 607,223.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, REBECCA GRAVES, a citizen of the United States, 4residing at Spokane, in Spokane County, and State of `Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath Supports, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My resent invention relates to improvements 1n bath supports which, while -not designed for exclusive use in bathing infants or children, is especially adapted for this purpose. The primary object of the invention is the provision of abath appliancein which the person may be supported within' the bath tub with the support or appliance partially submerged in the water contained in the tub, or the support maybe suspended above the water line in the tub. T his support is of fiexible material and fashioned in such manner as to be suspended from the` opposite top edges of the bath tub andform a partial enclosure for the protection and support of the infant. Adjustable suspending means are employed which may be manipulated I l the conformation or shape of the support and thus adapt it to accommodate the childor infant in various positions: By' manipulating the adjust-able suspending devicesthe shape'of different portions of the. flexible support may be changed, one portion may be elevated above another portion, portions `forming the side walls of the support maybe given a selected depth. In this manner the head portion of the support may be elevated, while the foot portion is permitted to sag and form' a pocket of greater depth than the head portion for the accomodation ofan infant in a yreclining position, onthe different portions of the support maybe adjusted to position to sup- `port the infant in a sitting posture.

These different formations and adjustments of the shape of the support are pos- 'sible because of the specific construction' of the flexible support, and its adjustable susiiding means, as'will be hereinafter more lly pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the arts are fashioned and combined according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application 'of the principlesl of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the for the purpose of changingand those I device of the invention supported within a bath tub, in position for use. f

Figure 2 is a vertical, Alongitudinal sectional view at line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vdetail view of the foot portion of the flexible support showing a portioiof a screen for a drain opening, and also illustrating a pair of laced plaekets 1n the body ofthe support whereby an enlarged, deeper portion or pocket may be formed atV the foot of the support.

.Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the tub illustrating'one of the sus ending hooks and suspending or adjusting uckle. J In order that the invention and its utility maybe readily uuderstoodI have illustrated a conventional form of bath tub 1 having the usual curled or curved top edges 2.

' The bath support, as a whale is designated by the numeral 3, and is made up or fashioned from suitable textile fabric, or other flexible material suitable for the purpose, which may or may not be waterproof, as desired, but is preferably of approximate rectangular form. The ends of the support are designated as the head portion 4 and foot .portion 5, and it is intended that the infant when being bathed, shall be placed in the support, as for instance to lie with its head inthe head portion 4: at the left end in Figures 1 and 2 and its feet in the foot por tion 5 at the right end of the support.

Reinforcing edge strips or binding tapes 6 are secured around the edges of the support, and at suitable intervals along the bp-.4,

posite parallel edges of the support arefattached suspending straps'7. In Figure 1 it will be seen that the straps are arranged in pairs at opposite edges of the support in order that they may co-operate in supporting theV .device in adjusted position. Each suspending strap is providedk with an adjust ing buckle 8 for lengthening or shortening the suspending strap, and a suspending hook 9 is attached at the end of each strap ingthe pair of Straps 7 in igure 1 a ridge 8', extending transversely of the support, is

formed at its inner or upper side, to accomthis position, not only is better accoininodation provided for the infant, but water accumulating in the support may readily run down the bottom of the support and drain through a gauze or perforate screen l0 in the bottom of the support. This drain screen may be of porous fabric 'or other suitable material and is inserted in an opening provided therefor in the support with its edges securely stitched to the support for retention therein.

The foot portion 5 of the support is provided with a pair of plackets 11 and 12, spaced apart as shown and en tending outwardly from the drain opening 1n the bottom of the support to the edge of the support. The plackets radiate from the longitudinal center of the support, on diagonal lines, and their edges are provided with binding tapes 13 having eyelets or eyes 14 for-the lacing strings 15. y

The plackets are closed' or filled with V- shape pieces or darts 16 folded or pleated on converging lines complementary tothe edges of the plackets, as seen in Figure 1, while in Figure 3 the lacing strings 15 appear on the under or outer sides of these pleats. It will be obvious that the lacings strings may be used as draw strings to close the plackets and fold the pleated portions 16 to reduce the circumferential area of the foot portion or end 0f the support and fashion this end of the support as a pocket to prevent a child from falling out at this end. The suspending straps at the foot portion of the support are also adjustable for the purpose of lowering or elevating' the foot portion of the support, as desired.

In the position of the support indicated in Figure 2 it is adapted to accommodate an inant in the same manner that the infant lies in the mothers lap or is held in the mothers arms, for bathing. The ridge 8 formed transversely of the support by drawing on the straps 7 fits neatly under the infants neck and the head is supported in the head portion 4, to take the weight oilv the childs neck. As the child grows stronger and is enabled to more nearly support itself, the

relative positions of the head and foot portions of the support are changed, the former being elevated withl relation to the latter, to accommodate the child, and forni a protective support.v

The size of the support is ofcourse varied, and larger supports are adapted vfor adults to be used in hospitals for the accommodation of patients, or in the home for the benelit of invalids requiring personal attention.

It will be apparent that the support may be maintained in a sanitary condition by laundering and may be quickly and readily dried after use It may with facility be suspended from the sides of the bath tub, or suspended from other suitable support when required, and with equal convenience the hooks may be disengaged from the tub sides y and the support removed when not required for use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A bath support of flexible material having separately adjustable suspending means attached at opposite ledges thereof and arranged in pairs, said support having a foot portion formed with a drain, and plackets extending from its center to its edge, pleats -in said plackets, and means for closing or partially closing said plackets.

Q. -A bath support of flexible material having suspending means, said support having plackets radiating from its longitudinal center to its edge, pleats in said plackets, and a lacing string in said plackets.

3; A bath support of flexible material. having separately adjustable suspending means attachedat opposite edges and arranged in'pairs, a perforate piece set in the bottom of said supportas a drain, plackets radiating from said drain to the edge of the support and provided with eyelets, lacing strings in the eyelets, and pleats secured in said plackets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REBECCA GRAVES.

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