USRE4949E - Improvement in portable baths - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-S,h,eet 1.

54 j. KNOWLTON.

Portable B aths.

N0: 4,949. Reissued June 18,1872

2 she-( ats sheet 2.-

E. J. KNOWLTON. Portable Baths.

Reissued June 18, 7872.

U1\TITED ST ES PATENT OFFICE.

-nnn'nsr KNOWLTON, or ANN ARBOR. MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT m PORTABLE BATHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 100,297, dated March 1, 1870; reissue No. 4,949, dated June 18,

v To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ERNEST J. KNOWLTON,

of Ann Arbor, in the county of W'ashtenaw- (or submergent) baths of pliable material, as

Wellas to produce a pendent bath of such material; but they have not been such as to meet the requirements either of invalids or for genuse. Some have been made with inflated double air-filled sides; others held in place by a sort of basket frame-work; while a flexible rubber bath has been folded over side-bars,

and. supported entirely upon the floor. In eveg such construction, however, as much wat has been necessary as in metallic vessels, and all pendent or partially suspended baths have been attached to frames of equal width and depth, which must necessarily hold the pendent parts too far from each other to economize water; and the average width be ing the same, they cannot admit of the forma tion of two different widths of small baths from the same cavity. Moreover, where baths are suspended from frames having vertical .end supports, and sometimes descending sides, 1 these parts tend to obstruct the free action of the pendent sack, and-it cannot be changed in different inclined positions. While these baths are incapable of afl'brding a base point and an inclination of the foot portion with respect to 'the head and its support, they are designed for one form, size, andstyle ofbath, and cannot be readily converted into difierent baths 'fio'mone and the same cavity; nor has any attempt been made to construct a pliable pendent bath, having the capacity for changing its position or inclination with respect to its supports, and to be used with chairs to accomplish this desirable purpose.

My patent of January 28, 1868, as far as known to me, has the only approximation to a sin glle flet-rim support for a pendent bath; but int atc'ase the rim'o'r frame is flexible, and is dependent, for support and connection, upon the bedstead'and an attached leg, and my present improvements are designed to remedy the disadvantage attending such a construction, as well as, all others. The object of the invention which constitutes the"subject-matter of this patent, is to accomplish the construction and production of a bath which; shall be economical, and easily adaptable to a variety of uses, such as taking a full bath in a recumbent position, a sponge a hip or sitz, a foot-bath, and also two smal baths varying in capacity for different-sized children; and in each of these baths rendering them pleasant and entirely efllcient with a comparatively small quantity of water, and which bath or baths may-be used with great convenienceand ease in the sick room, and. for invalids whose causes;- To these ends my invention consists,"

among others, of the following, features, viz.:f

liirst, of a bath of pliable materiahpendent from a rigid flat frame. By the-term rigid flat frame,'I simply'mean a frame suificiently.

firm for the various purposes hereafter designated, and the partsof which are practically free from unyielding vertical projections or posts. Secondly, of a flexible bath, pendent from rigid flat frame in such a manner that the said bath will afford a firm base in the bottom thereof near the shoulders or chest, while the limb portion-thereof gradually inclines upward from that base support toward the foot}.

thereby enabling the person entering the bath a to have an inflexible support and hold for the hands, and a solid base within the bath to stand on at will, and while bathing, to press the sack closely against the body by the weight within, Thirdly, combining, with a rigid, flat, open frame, projections for the purpose of affording proper means .for the attachment of said bath to chairs or other suitable supports,

or for resting thereon. Fourthly, contracting, dividing, or partitioning the cavity of a pliable pendentbath, whether for parts of the person, for the position of the person, or for adaptation for children, as may be required under difierent circumstances. Fifthly, in con structing a pendent bath of pliable material with that part of the frame to which the sack is attached, adaptable to suificient inclination,

from the foot upward, to form certain specific adaptations, for a hip, sponge, orfoot bath.

are from various end can be raised upon thee v aiford a seat within the chair for. the person i seem tha g at a eants in place of several parts joined together, to form a rigid fiat frame for a bath of pliable material, thereby combining lightness, strength, and elegance. Seventhly, in making the rigid frame of a pendent pliable bath with a greater average width at one end then the other, for different widths or, small baths. Eighthly, in

combining or forming with such frame a spout or apron for the 'purposeof affording means foremptying the water from the bath when desired. Ninthly," in an arran ement of cords and means of attachment an adjustment of the bath. 'lenthly, in the construction of a pendent/bath having a rigid flat frame, adapted for use with chairs in such a manner that the frame and suck thereof can be adjusted with one end upon the floor while the other hair-seat so as to in taking a footior spongebath. Eleventhly,

in-thecombination-of a pendent bath with the seat of one chair and the rounds or horizontal bracesof another, chair, in such a manner as ,to form ahip or sitzbath by means of a sin gle' transverse contractionof the sacknear the mid- ;..dle thereof. Y

. In the accompanying drawin g, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a bath em- I bracing my invention, shown in the position .for a recumbent bath. Fig. 2 represents a simlilar view, the bath-occupying the. position when used for a.foot or sponge bath. Fig.3

represents a ,similar view, the bath being in the positionwhen Eused as a hip or sitz bath. Fig. .4 represents a plan or top view of my improved bath; and Fig; 5, a vertical longitud- ,inal section thereof, showing the base andin- ,clincd parts of the pendent or partially sus- ,pended stick with respect to the floor.

In the accom'anying drawing, the rim A constitutes the amc of the bath; In the exa ple shown iti'is made of a stick of tough timber, usually one inch thick, and two inches wide, and fourteen feet long, steamed and bent in the form of an ox-bow,or of aline conforming to the outline of the human "body, with the ends of the bow projecting at the foot, secured about ibur'inches'apart and connect. ed by across-tie, B,m'atched and screwed onto the under edge of the ends of the bent piece, thereby completing the rim, and "forming a suitable projection and wide base'forresti'ng on a chair or other temporary support, and at the sametime serving as a spout or apron 1 E, for. emptying the water out of the bath. 'Jihis cross-tie should beabout three-quarters of an inch thickfthree inches wide, and fifteeninches long. Asimilar cross tie or piece, 0,, is fastened in any convenient manner to the opposite end of the rim for resting on another chair. 'To one end of each of these crosspieces B and C is fastened a stron cord, b, andto theothcr end-is secured a utton or small iron bola-yin -pin, 0, by means of which and the cords b t ie whole is securely festencd to the chairs, as shown in the drawing.

Opposite each other, and about two feet from the foot of the bath other buttons or iron belaying-pins d are firmly fastened to the rim or frame A, forthc purposes hereinafter described. The ri'm,'being thus made, is then turned bottom upward, and while in that position the sack is then nailed to the inner and upper edge of the rim or frame under a round-edged cleat, c. The rim or frame is then righted, and the sack sustained so as not to be cut or worn outby the cleat. The sack D should, preferably, a be made of strong white rubber-cloth, about seventy-six inches long, seventeen inches deep at the foot, twenty-two inches deep at the shoulders, and fifteen inches deep at the head, the top edge beingstraight, and the irregularitics' in depth, as described, being all on the bottom. This construction will give a base;point' upon the floor, as shown at g in Fig. 5, and an upwardly'inclincdfoot or limb portion, h, whenever the ends of the rigid frame res't uponthc seats of common house-chairs, and thus the base-pointy is formed bythe contact of the suck at the greatest depth with the floor, which has the yery great advantage of afl'ording a firm place for the bather to stand upright upon, and'en ablin g him tocontrol him-' self perfectly in getting in and outof the sack, using the rigid rim or frame as'a support for his hands, while the bottom of the sack, from the base-point, inclines upward two-or three inches, whichis highly advantageous, in requirin g much less water than a level-bottomed sack. 'lheconvergent form ofthe frame is also very useful and advantagcous,,in connection with this unequal depth of sack, in facilitatarato' and distinct baih-chambers or cavities, of Varying depths ,and widths for differentsizcd children, by contracting the sack at right angles to its length, as shown in Figs.-2 and 3; of the drawing.

I do not wish to the exact sizes or forms I have given, but may vary the sizes or forms to suit circumstances. Among the various baths which my invention willadmit of the following may be mentioned, viz.: To form asubmergcnt or recumbent bath for an adult, placethe two ends of house-chairs; pass the cords around the front. legs; draw closely, and make fast to the belaying-pins c at the opposite side of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. To form two small baths for children of different sizcs a, cord or its equivalent is drawn around of abross under the suck so as to divide the cavity transversely, and securely fastened to the bcluying-pins or buttons d, thus contracting the water-space, and forming two separate baths of varying capacities. To form a spongcbath, fasten the head of thcjbath close ,up against the chairback, to which it may be secured, if desired, and drop the foot to the floor. The upper end i ing the formation of the cavity into two sepconfined arbitrarily to the rigid rim or frame on the front edge of cross-tic,-as in the small baths, and slip the.

of the sack wili then rest upon the chairscat,

. out the water.

when the bather may sit thereon with feet in the sag of the sack, just in front of the chair, on the floor or base-point, and sponge from head to foot in the most comfortable position,

while the water all gathers around the feet, and, therefore, in this form, it becomes a footbath, as shown in Fig. 2. To form a hip-bath from the structure or divided water cavity last described, raise the foot of the bath six or eight inches and secure it to a chair-round, the head end being upon the chair-seat, and sit in the sag of the sack, putting the feet into the sag in the fbot of the bath, the bend of the knees conforming to the elevation of the sack; and, if need be, water of a different temperature may be put into the foot cavity.

I believe that no other form of bath hitherto known presents so many advantages as my invention, especially in the treatment of spinal and rheumatic complaints.

fort it cannot be surpassed. By the. employment of pillows and other flexible'fixtures -feeble and diseased parts against an unyielding substance avoided.

To empty the bath, set the foot of the rim or frame on a bucket, raise the head, and pour When empty, wipe, turn inside out, and hang ip by the rim in a cool dry place.

It is obvious that legs may be hinged or otherwise attached to this bath, by means of which the chairs maybe dispensed with, and

- that other supports applicable to the various conformations herein described may be improvised.

Having described my invention,I claim- 1. A bath of pliable material pendent from a rigid flat frame around the top edge only.

.2. A bath of pliable material pendentw from a frame, with that portion of the sack for the chest or shoulders touching the floor or a solid base, and the limb portion of the sack slightly inclined upward.

3. A pendent bath of pliable material, with less depth of sack near one end than near the other, or in the limb portion thereof than in the chest portion thereof, thereby reducing the cavity and economizing fluid.

For ease and com- 4. A bath of pliable material pendent from 'a flat frame, with projections B for resting on or for attachment to chairs or other temporary supports.

'5. The division of the cavity of a pliable bath by a single contraction of the sack or pliable material thereof as described.

, '6. A bath of pliable material pendent from a frame, as described, or from any common mechanical structure the parts of'which are d that by simply drawing v fpliable bath with the common house-chair in forming specific adaptationsas for a full, a hip, ora sponge bath-substantially as shown and described.

10. A bath of pliable material pendent from a frame formed or sprung into shape as a hoop. 11. A spout or apron for the discharge of fluids projecting directly from or forming a part of the stiffening support of a pliable bath.

12; A change in the form ofthe cavity of a pendent pliable bath from an adaptation for one specific design to that of another- -as from a full bath to a partial bath, or from a foot-bath to a hip-bath-bytemporarily contracting o1- collapsing a part of the pliable material thereof, substantially as described.

13. A bath of a' pliable material which affords a firm place to stand in the bottom thereof, and is so nearly suspended as to press-the pliable parts closely against the sides of the person bathing by the weight of that person.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses this 20th day of May, A. D. 1872.

Ennns'r JZKNOWLTON.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. J onNsoN, J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON.

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