An Improved Loofah Bath and Friction Glove.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Loofah Bath and Friction Glove.
WILLIAM EDWARD PLAYFAIR and HENRY EDWARD WARREN both of
No. 44, Trinity Square Brixton in the County of Surrey Agents do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a bath and friction glove made of the outside portion of the whole loofah
(sometimes called the vegetable sponge,) and lined with linen or calico and bound
round with tape and having the two ends of the loofah united thus utilizing the
entire loofah with the exception of the core and very slight trimmings, and having
a linen or calico tape stretched across the centre of the inside of the glove. This
tape though fastened at each end is loose in the middle and it thus forms a strap or
stay to catch the thumb, and so prevent the hand from passing too far into or
through the other end of the glove.
The bath and friction glove is thus capable of being used by either the right or
left hand at either end of the glove as it is open at both ends. At either end or
opening of the glove there is a tape or in the alternative a cord elastic or otherwise
running through the tape forming the binding so as to act as a drawstring and thus
if required to decrease the width of the two apertures and more effectually to
enclose the hand. The use of the bath and friction glove is that it acts as a
rubefacient and stimulas to the circulation of the blood.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1892.
WILLIAM EDWARD PLAYFAIR.
HENRY EDWARD WARREN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Loofah Bath and Friction Glove.
We, WILLIAM EDWARD PLAYFAIR, and HENRY EDWARD WARREN, both of
44 Trinity Square, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved loofah bath and friction glove and is
designed to incorporate in such a glove a greater amount of the natural loofah
than has heretofore been usual, and also to render the glove less liable to slip
off the hand when in use.
For these purposes the glove, is made of the fibrous outer portion of the
loofah, the Momordicca Luffa (Linn.), (sometimes called the vegetable sponge)
which is lined with material such as textile material such as linen or calico and
bound round the edges with tape, the two ends of the loofah being united together
so as to form a glove or pad open at both ends. By this construction we are
enabled to utilize practically the whole of the natural loofah.
To prevent the glove slipping from the hand when in use, a holding device such
as a piece of tape or webbing is provided inside of the glove between the ends
thereof. This tape is fastened at each end to the inner side of the glove, but
is left loose in the middle so that when the hand is passed through one end of
the glove, the tape can pass between the thumb and the first finger and so
prevent the hand passing too far into or through the other end of the glove, and
enable the glove to be held.
The glove being open at both ends can be used with the right or the left hand
inserted at either end.

page_text: Sometimes instead of a tape as above mentioned, a small bag is fitted inside the
glove and spaces are left between it and the inner side of the glove for the
thumb, the fingers being inserted into the bag itself.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a developed view showing the inner side of the outer portion of a
loofah such as is used in the manufacture of gloves according to this invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side and end views of one form of glove made
therefrom, and
Figs. 4 and 5 are corresponding views showing a modified construction.
In manufacturing gloves according to this invention we proceed as follows:-
The loofah as found in commerce, is prepared for use by first slitting it open and
removing the core and seeds and trimming the edges, after which the remainder or
outer portion is opened out so as to form roughly a rectangular piece A (Fig. 1) of
about twice the size of one side of the glove it is intended to make. The said outer
portion after being moistened, is compressed to flatten or compress the web-like
projections or rays B left after the removal of the core and seeds, and to its inner
side, which is intended to be innermost in the finished glove, is applied a lining C
of suitable textile material such as calico which is secured, it may be by sewing,
to the edges A1 A2 A3 A4 of the loofah which are bound with tape E. To the
lining C is secured the holding device. This device in the construction shown in
Figs. 2 and 3, consists of a piece of tape D which is sewn at its ends to the lining (
at the points D'. The loofah thus lined and bound, is then folded over about the
linea a Fig. 1 so as to bring the edges A' and A² together. These edges are then
secured together, it may be by a covering strip F of tape, thereby completing the
formation of the glove.
In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and the holding device consists of a bag D*
having four points of attachment D¹ around its mouth or opening to the lining C so
that four openings D² are left for the passage of a person's thumb between the bag
and the lining. This construction admits of the glove being used indifferently with
the left or the right hand which can be inserted into either end of the glove. When
in use the fingers are inserted in the bag, which is reversible, and is pushed out as
shown in Fig. 4, at the opposite end to that in which the hand is inserted, the
thumb being passed through one or other of the openings D². By this means a
firm hold on the glove can be obtained.
To increase the substance of the glove and also to enable it to absorb more
water, the core, end pieces and trimmings may be utilized as stuffing or packing
by inserting these parts between the outer portion A of the loofah and its lining C.
In some cases instead of removing the core it may be slit open and compressed
together with the outer portion A B of the loofah preparatory to forming it into a
glove. We prefer however to remove the core as herein described and use it as a
stuffing or packing.
A loofah bath and friction glove constructed as described acts when in use in a
very efficient manner as a rubefacient and stimulus to the circulation of the blood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that, what we
claim is
A loofah bath and friction glove formed of practically the whole of the fibrous
portion of a loofah, and provided with an internal holding device substantially as
herein before described with reference to the examples illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings for the purposes specified, whether or not the ends, core, and
trimmings be used as a stuffing or packing as set forth.
Doted this 8th dor of Avent 1800
W. E. PLAYFAIR.
H. E. WARREN.