US587767A - Combined water-pillow and douche - Google Patents

Description

{No Model.)

A A. STOLL' COMBINED WATER PILLOW AND DOUGHE.

No. 587,767. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

WiiflSSS. Inuenior 9 9 I Wasm Z'M/0 %W- MWM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT A. STOLL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

COMBINED WATER-PILLOW AND D OUCHE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 587,767, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed June 22, 1896. Serial No. 596,529. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. STOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Combined Pillow, Cushion, and Bathing Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined water pillow, cushion, an d bathing device; and the object of my invention is to provide a device more convenient than those at present in use for applying heat or cold to the head and which will also be very advantageous in the treatment of the lower parts of the body by bathing, steaming, or medicating.

My invention therefore consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the upper side of the pillow or cushion. Fig. 2 is a view of the under side thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a head-rest and spraying deviceto be inserted in the central aperture, and Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of other forms of such spraying devices.

1 represents the body of the water pillow or cushion, the same being rectangular in shape and having a central aperture 2 and connections at the corners with pipes 3. The under side of the cushion is provided with grooves 4:, leading from the corners to the central aperture 2, in which grooves are adapted to be placed the pipes 3, so that their discharge ends can be brought to the central aperture and there connected to any suitable spraying device, such as those illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

In addition the under surface of the cushion is provided with grooves 5, leading to the central aperture from the middle of the longer sides of the cushion. The cushion is also provided with eyes 6 atthe sides, by means of which it may be suspended from ropes to form a seat in the manner of a swing.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are shown various spraying devices that may be inserted'in the central aperture for the purpose of applying heat or cold or desired medications to the parts to be treated. Thus in. Fig. 3 is shown adevice 7 of this character having the body somewhat urn-shaped and the upper surface concaved, as at 8, to form a rest for the part to be treated and provided with a number of perforations 9 therein for the discharge of the hot or cold water or of the medicament to be applied. Fig. 4 shows a device 10 somewhat different in shape from that shown in Fig. 3 and having a single discharge-opening 11, while Fig. 5 shows a douche or sprayer 12 of the craneneck form.

The device is by its novel construction found to be of great utility as a pillow and bathing device for the head. Thus in casev of a cut, wound, or sore on the head the head can be placed upon the pillow previously filled with hot water or medicated liquid, with the wound or part to be treated on the aperture in the pillow, and a steady stream of the hot water or medicament can be applied to wash the wounded or sore portion, and this notwithstanding that the patient is compelled to take a recumbent position either from weakness or through an accident.

The device is of great benefit in the treatment of diseases of the rectum or adjacent parts. For this purpose it is preferred to employ a chair with an aperture to correspond with the aperture in the cushion, so that the water or other liquid discharged upon the parts can run into a suitable vessel or receptacle under the chair.

The advantage derived from the use of the device instead of the ordinary hand-syringe is that the stream of fluid thereby discharged is smooth and steady without the jerking intermittent action of the hand-syringe, which is so irritating to the patient. Moreover, the force of the discharge in my device being derived from the pressure due to the weight of the patient sitting upon the cushion, the device can be readily and advantageously used by persons too weakor from other causes unable to operate the hand-syringe with sufficient strength to produce an adequate discharge. 1 a

The advantage over the fountain-syringe commonly used is that much greater force can be obtained. This is of great importance in many cases as, for instance, when it is 2 p r 587,767 g i desired to wash or medicate the larger intestines. With the ordinary fountain-syringe this cannot be accomplished, as a fountainsyringe does not supply sufficient force to reach these parts. With my improved device, however, much greater force can be applied and in a most convenient manner.

An important advantage derived from the use of the device is that in applying heat or cold to any particular part to be treated the heat or cold of the cushion may also be utilized for the adjacent parts. This is especially valuable, for instance, in the treatment of female complaints, as for difiicult menstruation, &c.

In certain cases it may be desired to apply heat to the immediate parts to be treated and at the same time cold to the surrounding parts, or vice versa. For this purpose the grooves 5 are provided in the under surface of the cushion, leading from the sides to the central aperture, andin either of said grooves may be placed discharge-tubes for discharging upon the part to be treated liquids of the desired temperature, 01', again, both of the grooves may be used, one for discharging hot and one for cold water, so that hot and cold applications maybe made alternately at frequent intervals to the immediate part, while at the same. time the surrounding parts may be kept warm by the warm water in the cushion.

said aperture and being there provided with Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. In a device of the character described, I an aperture'd or annular inflatable pillo w or cushion, and a discharge-tube from said pillow or cushion, the discharge end of said tube reaching into said aperture and being to: attached to a spraying device provided with abase for supporting the same so as to stand in said aperture and discharge upwardly therethrough, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, 45; an apertured or annular inflatable pillow or cushion, and a discharge-tube extending from; the periphery of said pillow or cushion into a base-for supportingthe same so as to stand 50 in. said aperture and discharge upwardly therethrough, said pillow having a groove on its under side of sufiicient size to receive said tube and permit the liquid to flow freely therethrough when said pillow or cushion is 55 pressed upon its support, as when in use, sub- 3 stantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT A. STOLL.

Witnesses:

WM. J. HALEY, ANTON KUTZLEB.

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