US903289A - Vapor-bath apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

' a, 1906. 903,289. Patented Nov. 10,1908.

e72 far TINTTED STATES PATEN T @FFTQE.

KASSON HIOKOX, OF EXOELSIOR SPRINGS, MISSOURI.

VAPOR-BATH APPARATUS.

Application filed April 3,

paratus and more especially to apparatus for.

subjecting the face to the action of vapor or steam for the purpose of softening, purifying and cleansing the skin, and my object is to produce apparatus of this character, by which medicated steam or vapor can be applied to the parts of the body affected for the purposes described, and which performs its function efficiently and reliably and is of simple and inexpensive construction.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features ofconstruction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, one element of the apparatus being shown partly in section, and certain parts broken away. Fig. 2, is a to plan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a detail view showing a cup attachment for application of the steam or vapor to the different parts of the body.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates a burner of any suitable or preferred type, and 2 standards projecting upward therefrom and forming a support for the steam generator 3,

having an upwardly projecting steam exit pipe 4. 5 is a flexible tube connecting pipe 4 with the upper end of a pipe 6, depending into a jar 7, adapted to contain a medicated liquid or the medicine may be in the form of a powder or crystals, said pipe 6 being rigidly carried by a removable cap 8 for said jar. The cap is also provided with a short exit pipe 9, through which the steam or medicated vapor esca es from the jar.

10 indicates a exible tube connecting exit pipe 9, with a tube 11, projecting into a steam tank or receptacle 12, which may be of any suitable or preferred form, the drawing showing the same of square form with its upper front and rear edges dished and provided with flanges 13 and 14 respectively, the opposite ends of said flanges being connected by side flanges 15. These flanges Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Serial No. 309,579.

I afford a wider support or hearing for the patients face in case he desires to support his head while taking the treatment hereinafter referred to.

16 indicates an arch overlying one end of tube 11, to prevent the steam rising directly upward therefrom and it also forms a su port for the angle tube 17, having one en proj ecting through a wall of the tank, and the tube 18, carrying a mouth-piece 19.

In practice the heat from the burner generates steam in the generatorS, the steam passing therefrom through tube 5 and pipe 6, and into the jar 7, which may contain a small quantity of medicated liquid in order to impregnate the steam, the particular impregnating substance or compound employed dethe disease to be treated. From the jar this medicated steam or vapor passes through tubes 9, 10, and 11 into tank or receptacle 12, 'rising in the latter so as to come in contact with the face or other part of the body of the patient, the patient either sitting with his face above the tank with his head and the tank enveloped in a towel or other wrapping, with the mouth-piece 19 in his mouth in order that he may breathe while thus enveloped, without danger of inhaling the hot steam or "vapor. If desired a towel can be stretched across the upper end of the tank and the face be pressed against the same in order to obtain the effect of an application of a hot towel to the face.

When it is desired to treat other parts of the body, I preferably detach tube 10 from tube 11, and secure in said tube 10 aT-coupling 20, equipped with a pair of flexible tubes 21 ada ted to fit over and be secured to the depen ing stem 22 screwed into and communicating with the cup 23, which cup is preferably beaded at its open end as at 24, to receive and hold reliably a soft rubber flange or ring 25. By this arrangement an air-tight joint can be made with any part of the body, the cups beng preferably of suflicient diameter to completely incase the ear.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced apparatus which can be used for, not only the pur oses specifically mentioned, but can also e used in treating various diseases. It is obvious that changes in the detail construction may be made without departing from the principle of construction involved, and I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the form, proportion,

pending on the character of the treatment or 7 other projecting upward to receive a flexible detail construction and arrangement of the parts shown and described. 7

I am aware that it has heretofore been roposed to connect a bath-box with'vesse sin which fumes are formed but such vessels were connected with the bath-box by a complicated system of piping in which were fitted valves to control the flow of the fumes and direct the course of the same. This apparatus was costly and intricate in construction and uncertain in its results owing to the liability of error in the adjustment of the numerous valves. 7

In my device, the piping is free of valves so that there can be no error in its adjustment. The steam in my device is forced to pass into the jar containing the medicine before passing into the bath-box or vapor receptacle so that the desired fumes will necessarily enter the said receptacle and the steam, of course, cannot pass directly to the said receptacle at its maximum temperature and burn the skin.

Having thus described the invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein described and shown vapor bath apparatus consisting of a steam generator having a single outlet, a medicine jar having a'single outlet, a vapor receptacle having its upper end shaped to receive the patients face and support his head, a valveless pipe leading from the outlet of the steam'generator'directly into the medicine jar, a valveless pipe leading from the outlet of the medicine jar into the vapor receptacle; an .archresting on the bottom of said receptacle and overlying the end of said pipe, and an air tube leading through the side of the vapor receptacle and projecting upward within the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

KASSON HICKOX.

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