US17979A

US17979A - Bathing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US17979A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1857-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1874-08-11

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN K. ONEIL, OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK.

BATHING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,979, dated August 11, 1857.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, J. K. ONEIL, of Kingston, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Bathing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theV accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l, being a'side view of the appa- V ratus, as attached to anordinary bathing pan; the latter being represented in section; Fig. 2, a section across the middle of the annular showering pipe.

Like letters designate corresponding'parts in both figures.

My improved apparatus is designed for the purpose of administering shower baths; that is, for applying the water to the body in numerous small streams, falling or projected with more or less force against the person. The improvement has for its object, applying the water to different parts of the body in succession, at pleasure, and at the same time to secure extreme simplicity, cheapness, compactness, convenience and effectiveness.

The accompanying drawings represent the improved apparatus, applied to a bathing pan A; but it may be used'in any other desired` connection; as, for instance, it may be connected with a water pipe passing through the house, without any additional iiXtures. If the water has no head or pressure, to give the required impinging force, a forcepump of some sort is used. Thus, in the drawings a bellows pump B, of the simplest construction, is shown, being attached permanently to the pan, or placed therein to be operated by the foot of the bather. From the pipe nozzle of an air reservoir C, attached to the pump, a small flexible pipe D, of sufficient length to reach from the bathing pan, to the top of any persons head, extends. The upper end of this pipe is connected, in any convenient manner, with an annular pipe E, the construction and operation of which are as follows z-The diameter of the ring is sufficient to allow it to pass up and down readily around any person; and the diameter of the pipe, of which it is formed, should be sufficient to supply the water as fast as desired. In the inner curve of the ring, numerous small apertures a., a, a, are made through the pipe, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

These perforations may be as many and as large as desired. When water is forced into the ring thus constructed, it issues in many small streams through said apertures directly inward toward the body, on every side; and none of the water is thrown away from the body. The person receiving the bath, while the Water is streaming from the pipe, moves the same from head to foot, or holds it at any height, and as long as desired. By employing light standards G, with hooks b, b, I), at diiferent heights, on which the annular pipe E, may rest; or by using a cord or cords, passing from the pipe around a hook b, at the top of the standards, the said pipe may rest or remain suspended, at any desired height, while the hands of the bather may be usedfor washing the person. These standards may be inserted in sockets F, on t-he bat-hing pan, so as to be removable at pleasure; or they can be dispensed with, if desired. Any other equivalent device for sustaining the annular pipe at any height, may be employed, in!

stead of that above described.

Instead of an annular pipe occupying an entire circle, any equivalent form may besubstituted; and it may occupy only a part of a circle; the essential requirements in every case, being only to direct the Water inward toward the body, and to apply the water at different heights successively at pleasure.

If there should be any liability of the water spattering from the body, a cloth screen hanging down from the annular pipe, a short distance, all around, may be added, for a fender. y

I do not claim an annular showering pipe separately, such or its equivalent having been used before, in other connections; but- What'I claim as my invention, is-` The combination` of the annular pipe E, or its equivalent, with the iiexible connecting pipe D, or its equivalent, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein speciiied.

In witness that the above is a true speciiication of my improved bathing apparatus, I hereunto set my hand this 16th day of June, 1857.

JOHN K. ONEIL.

Witnesses:

J. S. BROWN, JOHNS. HOLLINGSHEAD.