US407434A

US407434A - Solar bath

Info

Publication number: US407434A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1889-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 1906-07-23

Description

" 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(-No Model.) I

s. D. EVANS.

SOLAR BATH. No. 401,434. Patented July 23, 1889.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W 3); M\\/ I BY %.9/ w i W I A TTORIVEY (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheiet 2. s. D. EVANS.

SOLAR BATH.

No. 407,434. r Patente July 23,18

m VENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL DUNHAM EVANS, OF ASBURY PARK, NEIV JERSEY.

Y SOLAR: BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 407,434, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed February 21, 1889. Serial No. 300,774. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,' SAMUEL DUNI-IAM EVANS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Solar Baths, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for permitting the rays of the sun or other source of light to be used for hygienic or remedial purposes; and-to this end the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of devices or appliances which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a solar bath constructed according to my invention, with the patient in position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bath box or cabinet, with the top and front removed. Fig. 3 is a front view of the bath box or cabinet, also showing the front and top removed. Fig.4 is a detail view of the glass front with reflector-wings. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the top of the bath-box. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the front of the bath-box adapted to receive interchangeable glasses. Fig. 7 is a modification showing a folding bath box or cabinet.

The reference-numeral 1 denotes a casing or box, which constitutes a cabinet or receptacle in which a person can be placed in a nude state, in order to be exposed to the rays of the sun or other source or body from whichirays of light and heat emanate.

The bath box or cabinet is formed of vertical walls or panels of wood or metal, and has a bot-tom or floor A and a detachable top 2. Casters 3 are provided to facilitate the shifting of the cabinet. The front of the latter is formed of a detachable frame 4, in which a glass panel 5 is placed. -This frame 4 rests upon inclined bars 6 at the front of the bath box or cabinet, and it is retained in position by means of hooks 7, engaging suitable eyes 8, or by any other suitable or approved fastening devices. To the sides of the detachable frame 4 are hinged smaller frames or wings 9, in which are placed sheets of looking-glass or burnished metal 10. These surfaces 10 act as reflectors for increasing or intensifying the light passing through the glass front 5, or through the front opening when it is deemed advisable to remove the glass. The said reflector-wings, hinged to the frame 4, as shown at 11 in Fig. 1, also act as doors or screens,

since they can be turned over upon or against the glass front 5, thereby shielding the bather from view while being adjusted to the sun or other light rays.

It is sometimes advisable to use glass panels 5 of different colors, and in order to facilitate the interchangeable use of such different glasses the latter are fitted in small frames 12, which can be slipped into grooves in the frame4, as is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The detachable top 2 of the bath box or cabinet has an aperture 13, through which the head of the bather protrudes when in the apparatus. The said opening is fitted with rubber cloth 14 or other appropriate material, provided with a shir-string 15, thereby enabling the operator to fit or adjust the said material snugly around the neck of the bather with a view to preventing the escape of the heat generated in the interior of the bath box or cabinet.

Athermometer 16 is fitted in the wall of the bath box or cabinet for the purpose of enabling the temperature of the interior to be determined, it being obvious that the back of the thermometer bulb and tube should be in direct communication with the interior of the bath-box.

In the type of apparatus shown in the drawin gs the person receiving a sun-bath sits upon a chair in the interior of the bath box or cabinet, and the rays of the sun or other lightrays pass through the glass front 5, or through the front opening when such glass is dispensed with.

Ordinarily it is desirable to use a glass front,

because then the heat evolved in the interior of the bath box or cabinet will act ,mostbeneficially upon the patient. I also contemplate in some instances to supplement the action of the sun by heat obtained from a spirit-lamp or other artificial source of heat placed inside the bath box or cabinet. By such provision a very desirable sweat-bath can be given to the patient.

In Fig. '7 of the drawings I have shown a foldin g bath box or cabinet, which is composed of suitable plates or panels hinged together, as shown at 17. In this construction the bottom A is also detachable, so that when the front and bottom and top are removed all the parts can be packed together so as to facilitate storage and transportation. While I have shown in the drawings an apparatus in which the bather assumes a sitting position, it is obvious that without departing from the spirit of my invention slight structural changes enable me to provide an apparatus in which the patient is in a recumbent position. Many in- Yalids are too weak to sit upright, and hence in the horizontal form of apparatus a Wire or rubber mattress is provided, upon which the patient can lie at full length.

Having thus described my invention, What I SAMUEL DUNHAM EVANS.

Vitnesses:

SIDNEY T. HAMPTON, l\'lILTON HOLMES.