US532267A - Portable shower-bath apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1.

W. E. DOBBINS.

PORTABLE SHOWBRBATH APPARATUS. I v No. 532,267. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

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. PORTABLE SHOWER BATH APPARATUS. I

N0. 532,267. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

NITED STATES PATENT rice. if

\VILLIAM E. DOBBINS, OF ASIIBOIIRNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE SHOWER-BATH APPARATUS.

SPEGIZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,267, dated January 8, 1 895.

Application filed July 28,1894. Serial No. 513:840, (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern.-

Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Shower- Bath Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

. My invention has relation to shower bath apparatus, and consists in the device hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus for shower bath purposes which may be readily folded in a neat, compact form and readily applied above any bath tub for shower purposes, having an inclosing water-proof screen open at the top and bottom and surrounding the person con finingthe splash within the screen and preventing damageto the surrounding walls and floor.

I am aware that inclosing water proof screens for shower purposes have heretofore been known and used, and do not claim such screen broadly, my invention residing in the structure hereinafter particularly described and claimed. r

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a partially sectional view of the apparatus in position above the bath tub, and ready for Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible distending frame, in the preferred form, open. Fig. 3 shows the distending rods removed and the frame partially collapsed. Fig. 4 represents the frame and screen rolled in a compact portable form. When rolled more loosely the distending arms, flexible pipe and douche may be included in the roll in the compact bundle. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the perforated side of the preferred form of spiral douche, and Fig. 6 a sectional view of the same. Fig. Z representsa modified construction of distending arms as applied to the collapsible frame.

The supporting frame is preferably con- .structed of the two flexible bands, A, A, hinged or pivoted together at a, a, and adapted to form a circle or oval when distended. The rods, 1), are provided with hooked ends adapted to be inserted in orifices in the bands,

A, A, so that when in position, as shown in Fig. 2, the bands will be circularly distended and prevented from collapsing. The rods, 1), may be readily unhooked and the bands, A, A, sprung together upon their hinged joints when it is desired to transport the apparatus, and the material composing the screen may be rolled upon it inclosing also the other parts of the apparatus.

In the preferable construction, shown in Fig. 2, the rods, 19, are centrally secured upon a center disk or plate, A having a keyed central orifice, a In this construction, as shown in Fig. 2, the hooks on the outer ends of the rods, 27, which rods are loosely jointed to the plate, A engagein the flexible bands, A, A, and hold them in their distended circular, or oval, position. When it is desired to collapse the frame the rods, 1), are disconnected from the bands, A, A, and folded together upon the plate, A so as to occupy but little space. The frame is suspended through the medium of chains or cords, such as c, secured to the bands, A, A, and connected to a central chain, or cord, 0, which is designed. to be secured to a hook provided in the ceiling. The douche, D, when a part of portable frame, is adjustably secured centrally between the bands, A, A",

upon the distending mechanism, and when the apparatus is to be applied to a fixed douche provided above the bath the supporting frame is so adjusted upon it by means of the suspending cord that the douche will occupy a central position in or about the bands, A, A.

In the preferable construction the douche, D, has provided upon its upper face a key or oblong projection, d, adapted to fit in the slots, a a, provided in the plate, A so that after being inserted a half turn will key it in position and hold it securely to the under side of the plate, A

When the construction shown in Fig. 7 is employed the douche, D, maybe centrally secured in position upon the distending rods, 6, by any suitable means, such as by loops, f, secured to the upper part of the douche, D, through which the rods, 19, are passed before being hooked into the hands, A, A. I preferably construct the douche in a spiral form, as shown in the drawings, thus securing better water pressure results by this construction,

though any ordinary form of douche may be employed. A flexible rubber hose, 1), is connected with the douche, D, of sufficient length to connect it with the water spigots of the bath tub. To regulate the temperature of the water, as in tubs where independent hot and cold water spigots are employed, I provide at the lower end of the rubber tube, 12, a Y having flexible rubber hose upon its branches so as to connect with the respective spigots, though I do'not claim this as a feature of my invention. Upon the bands, A, A, I provide a screen of waterproof material, such as gossamer cloth, or thin sheet rubber, or like material, preferably tubular in form, of a desired length to allow the lower end to protrude into the tub. The screen is preferably provided with a slit extending from the bottom to about half to two thirds the length of the screen to facilitate getting in and out of the screen. I preferably provide a seam circumferentially around the lower end of the screen and fill the same with shot, or like material, for weighting the same in order to allow the screen to better retain its position. The screen, E, is secured at the upper end to the bands, A, A, in any suitable manner, as by sewing through perforations provided in the lower edge of the bands, or by any other desired method.

As before stated my invention in its portable construction is adapted to be applied either to a fixed shower or to include Within its combination a portable shower in itself having combined frame, screen, distending mechanism, douche and flexible hose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. A portable shower apparatus consisting of a detachable douche, folding distending bands, detachable distending mechanism for distending said bands and for centrally sup: porting said douche, and a water-proof screen open at top and bottom and secured to said distending bands, substantially as described.

2. Aportable folding shower apparatus consisting in a flexible tubular water-proof screen open at top and bottom, a hinged distending band provided in the upper end of said screen, detachable distendin g mechanism adapted to said band for distending the same, detachable douche adapted to be centrally supported within said band when distended upon said distending mechanism, and a flexible hose connected with said douche, substantially as described.

3. In a portable shower apparatus, an elongated tubular water screen of flexible waterproof material, collapsible distending band provided upon the upper edge of said screen, and removable rods adapted to said bands for distending the same, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a tubular elongated water screen composed of thin flexible waterproof material, a folding distending flexible band provided in the upper end of the screen adjustable distending mechanism for distending said band and holding the screen open at top and means for suspending said band to the ceiling, substantially as described.

5. Afolding portable shower apparatus consisting of the bands, A, A, hinged as at a, a, distending rods, 1), adj ustably secured to said bands, A, A, and tubular water-proof screen secured to the lower edge of said bands, substantially as described.

6. In a portable shower apparatus, collapsible distending bands, A, A, hinged as at a, a, detachable distending rods, b, and tubular flexible screen secured to the bands, A, A, and shot weighted at its lower ends in a seam provided for the purpose, substantially as described.

7. A portable folding showerapparatus consisting of hinged collapsible flexible bands, A, A, hinged as at a, a, detachable distending mechanism consisting of a central plate, A and rods, b, secured thereto adapted to engage in said bands, douche, D, and means for keying said douche to said plate, a flexible rubber hose secured to said douche and flexible water-proof screen provided upon the distending bands, A, A, weighted at its lower end, and means for suspending said band and screen, substantially as described.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, A. D. 1894.

WILLIAM E. DOBBINS.

Witnesses:

'ERNEST LOWENGRUND, JNO. E. PARKER.

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