IMPROVEMENTS IN BATHS AND IN THE MANNER OF BATHING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BATHS AND IN THE
MANNER OF BATHING." A communication from abroad by Warren Wasson,
and Charles North Harris, both of Carson City, Nevada, United States of
America
Sealed the 28th March 1879, and dated the 27th January 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BATHS AND IN THE MANNER OF BATHING." A communication from
abroad by Warren Wasson and Charles North Harris, both of Carson City, Nevada,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus used for bathing by means of a shower,
stream, or douche bath, and consists in furnishing a continuous shower, stream, or
douche bath for any desired length of time with the same liquid and without
addition, waste, or loss of liquid, said shower, stream, or douche to be under the
positive and instantaneous control of the bather as to quantity, force, direction,
and duration; said bath to have economical, cleansing, health-restoring, and health-
preserving peculiarities. The annexed Drawings will serve to illustrate a convenient
mode of performing the Invention. Figure 1 being a sectional elevation of my
improved bathing apparatus taken through the line x, x, of Figures 2 and 3, and
shows the position of a bather when bathing by my process. Figure 2 is a top
view of tank H, which is the bottom part of chamber F; it is taken through
line y, y, of Figures 1 and 3, and shows the plan of tank H, removable floors h¹,
and pump A.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the exterior of my improved
bathing apparatus; Figure 4 is a detail section taken through line w, w, Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a detail section taken through line 2, 2, Figure 2; Figure 6 is a detail
view of plungers C of pump A; Figure 7 is a detail cross section of pump A taken
through line, r, of Figure 4; Figure is a top view of diaphragm B and the
annular plate b of pump A; Figure 9 is a detail view of plate b of pump A; Figure 10
is a detail longitudinal section of pump A as though taken through lino w, w,
Davies 623

page_text: Figure two, showing plungers C¹ and chambers a³ which are modifications of
-plungers C and chamber a. The improved bathing apparatus as shewn in Figures one
_and three is portable, being mounted on castors h; it may however be constructed as a
permanent fixture. It consists of a room or chamber having entrance and exit door, a
window-to-admit light, and a pump arranged and operated within same chamber to
repeatedly-raise and discharge the same bathing liquid in a continuous shower,
stream, or douche, the chamber being so constructed that the-liquid will not escape
therefrom-during-a-bath. The room or chamber is made in two parts, viz., tank H
and chamber F, merely for convenience in construction and transportation. Tank H
is water-tight, except its top, which is open; chamber F rests on the top of
tank H, its lower inside edges are let down into the top of tank H so that the
liquid will not escape in passing the joint. Chamber F has a window f on top and
an entrance and exit door F¹ in front. Attached centrally on the under side of the
top of chamber F is hook f¹ having an arched way or groove formed in it so as to
hold flexible pipe hose E in a curved position and discharge the liquid on the bather.
The bottom of tank H slopes downwards slightly from each side to the centre, so
that the liquid will concentrate immediately. at the points of suction of pump A
Removable floors h¹are for the bather to stand on when not standing on the
oscillating beam D, they rest on projections formed on the inside and near the top
of tank H, and slant inwardly towards beam D to facilitate the flow of the liquid
off into tank H. The upper surface of floors h' and beam D are checkered with
shallow grooves to prevent the bather from slipping. On the under inner edges of
floor ¹ are projections / extending down below the point of oscillation of beam D;
on the under outer edges of beam D are projections ; projections h² and d¹ prevent
any solid object from being caught between the edges of floors h¹ and oscillating.
beam D. The novel features of pump A. consist mainly in the peculiar form and
arrangement of its parts to adapt it to this purpose. It is constructed as low as
possible that it may occupy the least amount of space in the chamber F; it rests on
cleats projecting at each end of tank H, which support it above the bottom of
tank H just sufficient to allow the liquid to pass under it to valve V¹. d are pivots
upon which beam D oscillates; pivots or hinges c connect plungers C with beam D.
B are flexible diaphragms made of leather or other suitable material, they form the
top part of chambers a', their outer edges are secured to the body of pump A. with
annular plates b; the lower ends of plungers C are secured centrally to the top of
diaphragms B with plates b¹. The lower part of chamber a' is formed in the body
of pump A, the sides flare outwardly at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and the
lower part of plungers C is shaped to fit therein. a is an air chamber, V are valves
alternately opening and closing in its bottom over passages connecting it with
chambers a¹. E is a short pipe extending from near the bottom of air chamber a
out through its top and up through an oblong hole in the centre of beam D. Beam D
oscillates-freely without touching the pipe E¹. Flexible pipe hose E is attached to
the upper end of pipe E'; on the other end of hose E is sprinkler e. Valves V1
alternately open and close over suction or inlet passages a in the bottom of
chambers a. Plungers C' and chambers a³ as shown in Figure ten are modifications
of plungers C and chambers a'. Plungers C¹ are solid pistons packed and working
vertically in chambers a³; chambers ³ are of the same diameter from top to
bottom. I prefer the improved plungers C with flexible diaphragms B and Haring
chambers a¹, as being less liable to get out of order and better adapted to this
purpose. On the bottom of tank H, Figure four, are shown two methods of heating
the liquid while it is in tank H when it is desired to do so. h³ is a gas burner, and
is a spirit lamp. When either of these methods are to be employed tank H must be
constructed with a metallic bottom adapted to that purpose. I prefer to heat the
liquid before putting it in tank H. G, Figure one, represents a bather taking a shower
bath by my process; the end of hose F is held and the shower directed by one
hand, while the other hand is left free to apply soap or the scrubbing brush. By
suspending the end of hose E on hook f¹ the shower would be discharged on the

page_text: bather without the aid of either hand; by removing hose sprinkler e and leaving
the end of hose E open it will produce what I call a stream or douche bath. The
bather stands with one foot on one side and the other foot on the opposite side of
the centre beam D of pump A, which he operates by throwing his weight alternately
on either foot which oscillates beam D and alternately raises and lowers plungers Č.
As one of the plungers C is raised it carries with it its diaphragm B, valve V¹ opens,
liquid is raised from the bottom of tank H up into chamber a¹; at the same time
the other plunger C is lowered, depressing its diaphragm B into chamber a' which
closes its valve V and forces the contents of chamber a¹ out and up through valve V
into air chamber a, from thence up pipe E' into, through, and out of hose E, forming
the shower, stream, or douche, as the case may be; the liquid then falls into tank H
to be again raised and discharged as above discribed, thus forming a continuous
circuit with the same liquid. The bather has at all times absolute and instantaneous
control of the action of pump A, by which he regulates the quantity, force, and
duration of the shower or stream. The farther his feet are from the centre of
bean D the greater will be his power to increase the force, and consequently the
quantity of the shower or stream. With his feet on the ends of beam D, as shown
by the position of bather G, Figure one, he can by the equalization of his weight on
beam D almost instantly change the force of the shower or stream fromí a powerful
to the most gentle flow, or stop its flow and again reproduce it at will without
changing the position of his feet on beam D. This constant control of the force,
quantity, and duration of the shower or stream as above set forth is another
distinguishing feature of my improved bathing process. About one gallon of liquid
is the minimum amount with which a continuous shower or stream can be main-
tained in this apparatus, nor is it desirable to bathe the entire person with a less
amount. The word liquid, as used in this Specification, means any proper bathing
liquid, such as water, either pure or holding various substances in solution, such as
soap, salt, &c., or water medicated or perfumed, natural mineral spring water, ocean
or sea water. The bathing liquid being provided of the kind, quantity, and
temperature desired, it is introduced into tank H by pouring it from a pitcher,
bucket, or any suitable vessel, or in case the apparatus is a stationary fixture it may
have an inlet pipe in the usual manner of bath tubs. At the conclusion of a bath,
by extending the end of hose E outside of chainber F tank H may be quickly
emptied with pump A, or a waste pipe may be inserted in the bottom of tank H to
empty and clean it.. Pump A and floors are removable from tank H by lifting
them out for purposes of cleaning and repairing. By this process of bathing, the
liquid will rise so rapidly and regularly in temperature that in any ordinary case
the re-action and its sensations will not cease during the most protracted bath. The
physical exercise required of the bather in using the bathing apparatus hastens and
prolongs the re-action by accelerating the circulation of the blood. Bags made of
water-tight fabric or water-tight apartments may be provided in chamber F to
hold and keep dry cloths, towels; and toilet fixtures. In carrying the process into
effect, any device capable of producing a continuous shower, stream, or douche bath
by repeatedly using the same liquid without addition or loss of liquid as described,
may be used.
Claims, First. The combination of chamber F having door F¹,
window f, hook f1, and water-tight bottom tank. H, and floors ¹ with pump A
having plungers C₁, and chambers a³, and liose E, with or without hose sprinkler e,
arranged and operated substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose
specified. Second. The combination of oscillating beam D, plungers C¹, valves V
and V, air chamber a, and hose pipe E. with or without hose sprinkler e, arranged
and operating in chamber F substantially as shown and described, and for the
purpose set forth. Third. In a shower bath apparatus adapted to be operated by
the alternate tilting weight of the bather, the combination with the two end pumps
of the single platform pivoted in a vertical plane between said pumps, and actuating
the same substantially as described. Fourth. The process and apparatus heretofore
described for bathing by means of a continuous or slightly interrupted circuit of the

page_text: same bathing liquid which in its revolutions through the apparatus is discharged
upon the bather in either a shower, stream, or douche, as may be desired.
In witness whereof; I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
band and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of January, A.D. 1879.