Year: 1886

page_text: I, OLIVER IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent 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 bathing apparatus for effecting frictional ablution and
drying of a bather's body.
For this purpose a loosely fitting flexible suit or garment encasing the bather's
body, is by means of a rotating crank moved up and down in frictional contact with
the body, while a stream or spray of water is directed over him. In connection
with the invention there is also arranged an adjustable rotary shaft having a towel
attached to it for applying a succession of frictional strokes to any part of the
bather's body. Rotary brushes are also arranged for rubbing parts of the body,
and means are provided for perfuming, disinfecting and causing perspiration and
for directing currents of air or steam upon the body.
These arrangements are shewn in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a per-
spective and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the combined apparatus, Fig. 3 shews the
attachment for rubbing the head, Fig. 4 shews brushes attached to a reciprocating
wire frame adapted to envelop the body. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 shew details
hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 10 is a front view and Fig. 11 a side view shewing certain modifications,
Fig. 12 being a plan. Fig. 13 is a section of a sponge lined bathing garment.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a platform having openings 2, and supports 3.
Behind this platform is a triangular frame consisting of uprights 4, connected by
horizontal braces 5. The two front uprights are connected at the top by a cross
arch 6 from which is suspended a showering or douche device 7 of any convenient
form.
To the rear standard 4 is jointed an arm 8 projecting forward and carrying at its
front end a cross bracket 9 in which is mounted a spindle 10 to one end of which
is connected a shaft 11 slotted or otherwise arranged for attaching towels to it.
On the spindle 10 is a pulley 12 driven by cord or belt from a pulley 13, mounted
in a frame 15, which, together with the arm 8 can be adjusted vertically on the
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page_text: rear upright 4. The frame 15 also carries a pulley 16, which is driven by cord or
belt from a pulley 17 on the main crank shaft 18 beneath the platform 1. The
belting that connects the pullies 16 and 17 is tightened by a pulley 19 carried on
an arm 20 which is jointed to the rear upright 4. The arm 20 and the frame 15
can be set at various heights and fixed by bolts passing through holes 21 in the
upright.
To the end of the arm 8, is attached one end of a cord 22, which is passed over
a pulley 23, and carries at its other end a weighted tassel 24. By means of this
cord 22, the bather can raise or lower the shaft 11, while the towels attached to it
revolve striking his body. If desired, the towel shaft 11, can be detached from the
spindle 10, and a rotary flesh brush 25 (Fig. 9) can be substituted. To the cranks
on the shaft 18 are jointed several upright rods 26 which pass through slots 2, in the
platforms 1, and are adapted to support a bathing dress. Each of the outer rods 26
has a handle 27 by which the bather can move the bathing dress up and down on
his body and at the same time drive the crank shaft 18, and through it, the towel
shaft 11, or rotary brush 25. The central rod 26 is forked, one prong being arranged
to extend upwards in front of the bather and the other behind him. The shaft 18
has a fly wheel 28 at each end one of them having a winch handle 29, so that the
apparatus can be worked by an attendant.
On the shaft 18 is a pulley 30, for driving a fan 31, from which an air pipe 32 can
send a current up along the bather's body through the legs of the bathing garment.
By a valve or cock 33 the air can be cut off from the pipe 32 and sent by a flexible
tube 34 and nozzle 35 so that the bather can direct a current of air up either sleeve
into the bosom or down the back. A seat 36 can be set at various heights by
passing a bolt at one end of the seat through one of the holes 37, while the other
end of the seat rests on one of a number of supports or mortices 38.
Under the platform 1 is mounted a shaft 39 driven by belt and pullies 41 and 42
from the shaft 18. Bevil pinions 40 on the shaft 39 gear with similar pinions 43,
on the lower ends of a pair of vertical brush shafts 44 (see Fig. 6) which revolve
in sleeves 45 held in openings made in the platform 1. On the brush shafts 44 can
be placed cylindrical brushes 46, to be used in bathing the feet or anointing them
when supplied with oil or ointment. When oil is used it may be contained in a
small tank 47 at the top of a box 48 containing cotton, sponge or like absorbent
material. Through holes in the bottom of the oil tank 47, oil passes to the
absorbent material which, one side of the box 48 being open, can be brought in
contact with the rotating brushes. For supplying the brushes with ointment they
may work against the open side of a semi-cylindrical box 49, Fig. 7, containing the
ointment which, owing to the shape of the box can be entirely consumed. By
thrusting the feet between the rotating brushes 46, the oil or ointment, is applied
with suitable friction. For one of the rotary brushes 46 may be substituted a
longer brush 50, Fig. 8, having a shaft with slots through which towels are passed
along with flexible elastic stems such as those used in brooms, which serve to hold
the towels straight and give them certain stiffness as they fan and strike the body
while the brush rotates. The upper end of the shaft may be supported in a
bearing 51 projecting from one of the uprights 4. Bathing suits of various kinds
can be attached to the vertical rods 26 to be reciprocated along the bather's body.
Fig. 4 shews a skeleton suit or frame 52 made of wire with projecting bristles or
brushes 53. Such a frame is formed in two vertical halves hinged together and
provided at each side with fastenings 54, for attaching it to the rods 26.
In the upper part of the front uprights 4 as shewn in Fig. 3, is mounted a
shaft 55 with pulley 56, driven from a pulley on the crank shaft 18. On the
shaft 55 is mounted a loosely swinging frame 57 in, which are two brushes 58
and 59 for rubbing the bather's head, these brushes being connected by gearing 60,
so that both rotate together. One side of the frame 57 is loaded by a suitable
weight or counterpoise 61, and the other side has attached to it a cord 62 by which
the bather can draw down the front of the frame and so bring the rotary brushes 58
and 59 into contact with his head.

page_text: The platform 1 may support a light framework covered with waterproof mate-
rial 63 as shewn in Fig. 1, to enclose the bather, if desired, an opening 64 being
provided through which the head can be protruded.
Instead of the bathing appliance shewn in Fig. 4, a flexible sponge lined gar-
ment 65, Fig. 13, can be employed if preferred.
The air pipe 32 may be made to communicate with a receptacle 66, which is
shewn in Fig. 5 with its lid 68 opened, containing any suitable absorbent
material 67, impregnated with perfume or disinfectant.
The absorbent material 67 may be removed and water or other liquid may be
placed in the receptacle 66 and heated by a spirit lamp, so as to produce a vapour
bath within the casing 63.
Certain modification of the apparatus are illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.
Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, 1 is the platform supported on posts 70 and having
through its slots or openings 2, for passage of rods 26 to which is attached a loose
fitting flexible bathing garment 65 (Fig. 13) preferably lined with soft sponge or
similar rubbing material. The rods 26 are connected to cranks on the shaft 18.
This shaft carries at one end a fly wheel 73, and near its other end, are four
pullies a b c d. The shaft 18 may be driven as shewn by band 74, connecting the
pulley b, with a pulley 75 on a driving shaft 76, which may be driven by a winch
handle 77. By the rotation of the crank shaft 18 the rods 26 are caused to
reciprocate moving the garment 65 up and down along the body of the bather
standing on the platform 1. The rods 26 have eyes 78 for receiving loops or
rings 79, or other fastenings to the bathing garment.
At the rear of the platform 1 are two uprights 80, the upper ends of which are
about level with the middle of the bather's back. These uprights 80 are connected
at the top by a cross bar 81 and have pivotted to their upper ends spring steel
strips 82, which extend across the platform 1 and are connected in front of the
bather by a horizontal bar 83 (see Fig. 12).
The spring strips 82 support a shaft 84, having attached to it a towel 85. The
shaft 84 carries a pulley 86 connected by band 87 to the pulley c, on the shaft 18,
this band running over guide pulleys 88. The pulley a is loose to receive the
driving band 74 when it is shifted from the fast pulley b, and the pulley c should
be capable of being unclutched or rendered idle, so that if desired the garment 65
can be worked independently of the towel 85. By shifting the belt 74 to the
loose pulley a, the shaft 18 can be stopped.
The bather by taking hold of the bar 83 can move the shaft 84, up and down,
and to the right and left, thus applying the rotating towel 85 to any part of his back.
To the bar 81 is attached a bent rod 90 carrying a suitable water vessel 91 for
giving a douche or shower bath while the bathing garment is moved along the
bather's body, thus furnishing an agreeable and cleansing bath with the healthfull
and electrical benefits due to a brisk excitation of the skin. The rotating towel 85
may be used either wet or dry, being especially useful when it is desired to
promote circulation by a succession of strokes applied to the body, and being also
available for drying the back.
On the shaft 18 may be an additional pulley d, connected by band to a pulley
on the shaft of the fan 31, which is arranged as described with reference to Fig. 2.
The fan may send currents of air by ducts 32 up the legs of the bathing garment,
as already described.
If desired the platform 1 can be provided with uprights 92, having handles 93,
by which the bather can steady himself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim in respect of bathing apparatus is :-
1. In combination with a douche or shower, a loose fitting bathing garment
lined with sponge or its equivalent, and caused to reciprocate along the body of the
bather, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The use of a rotating shaft having a towel attached to it, substantially as
described.
3. In combination with a douche or shower, and a reciprocating bathing garment
and the mechanism for working it, a fan and air ducts, arranged and operated
substantially as described.
4. In combination with the platform and framing a pivotted arm carrying
revolving brushes or towels and a cord and pulley or equivalent arrangement for
moving the arm substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In combination with the fan and its ducts a receptacle for perfume or disin-
fectant material, substantially as described.
6. In combination with the shaft and its moving parts a horizontal shaft and
bevil gear driving a pair of vertical rotary brushes substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
7. In combination with the vertical rotary brushes 46, the open sided box 48
or 49 containing material to charge the brushes, substantially as described.
8. The construction of bathing apparatus with framing shafting and connections
arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.
9. The modified construction of bathing apparatus with framing shafting and
connections arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 10,
11 and 12.