Especially Designed for the Use of Infants.
Year: 1886

page_text: Especially Designed for the Use of Infants.
I, SARAH CATHERINE NEAL residing at No. 27 North Washington Square, in the
city, county and State of New York, United States of America, Trained Nurse,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS ON FOLDING
BATHING RECEPTACLES OR APPARATUSES, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF
INFANTS," to be as follows:—
My invention relates to improvements in that class of folding bathing apparatuses
ог "bath-tubs" wherein the liquid-receptacle is made from flexible, water-proof
fabric or material usually rubber-cloth or oil-cloth.
In carrying out my invention I take a sheet of flexible water-proof material and
attach it at its two opposite sides or ends to stretching or spreading bars, which
latter are provided with legs that cross each other somewhat in the manner of the
legs of a folding camp-stool. In order to form the necessary cavity in the material
for the reception of the water, without the necessity of cutting and sewing,
whereby seams, liable to leak would be formed, the other two sides of the material
are gathered up and drawn inwards and plaited into folds, the ends of such folds
being secured firmly to the straining or spreading bars before described. In order
to strengthen the material at the sides and to take all or a portion of the strain off
from it, I usually insert a strip of webbing in a fold or hem at each end of the
material where it is stretched between the spreading bars, the ends of said strip
of webbing being rigidly fixed to the said bars. Such a receptacle or bathing
apparatus can be folded up as readily as a camp-stool and will occupy very little
room when so folded.
In order to avoid the usual difficulties attendant upon emptying receptacles of
this character, I fix in the material of the bottom of the receptacle, at the lowest
point, a faucet or cock, usually made from vulcanite or hard rubber. This cock or
faucet comprises the usual cock-plug to control the passage in the body and the
body has a flanged base which rests against the material of the receptacle, which
base has an internally screw-threaded recess. A flanged, perforated, screw-threaded
spud is passed through the material of the receptacle from the inside and screwed

page_text: into the base of the faucet, the fabric or material of the receptacle being firmly
clamped between the two flanges and forming a water-tight joint.
On the spreading-bars are mounted hooks or similar devices to support a towel-
holder or rack, and pockets for the reception of combs, brushes, soap, powder, and
similar toilet-articles, are also provided.
When the spreading bars are distended, and the bath ready for use, the crossed
legs are clamped by a suitable clamp-screw or like device. This enables the bathing
apparatus to be conveniently lifted without danger of its collapsing.
•
I do not limit myself to any particular material, as any suitable material or
materials may be employed in the construction of my bathing apparatus,
Dated this 20th day of December 100K

page_text: Improvements on Folding Bathing Receptacles or Apparatuses
Especially Designed for the Use of Infants.
C
I SARAH CATHERINE NEAL, formerly residing at 27 North Washington Square,
now of 151 West Thirty-sixth Street, in the City, County and State of New York,
United States of America, Trained Nurse 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:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in that class of folding bathing apparatuses
or "bath-tubs" wherein the liquid-receptacle is made from flexible water-proof
fabric or material usually rubber-cloth or oil cloth.
In carrying out my invention I take a sheet of flexible water-proof material and
attach it at its two opposite sides or ends to stretching or spreading bars, which
latter are provided with legs that cross each other somewhat in the manner of the
legs of a folding camp stool. In order to form the necessary cavity in the material
for the reception of the water or other liquid, without the necessity of cutting and
sewing, whereby seams, liable to leak, would be formed, the other two sides of the
material are gathered up and drawn inwards and plaited into folds, the ends of
such folds being secured firmly to the straining or spreading bars before described.
In order to strengthen the material at the sides and to take all or a portion of the
strain off from it, I usually insert a strip of webbing in a fold or hem at each edge
of the material where it is stretched between the spreading bars, the ends of said
strips of webbing being rigidly fixed to the said bars. Such a receptacle or bathing
apparatus can be folded up as readily as a camp-stool and will occupy very little
room when so folded.
In order to avoid the usual difficulties attendant upon employing receptacles of
this character, I fix in the material of the bottom of the receptacle, at the lowest
point a faucet or cock, usually made from vulcanite or hard rubber. This cock or
faucet comprises the usual cock-plug to control the passage in the body, and the
body has a flanged base which rests against the material of the receptacle, which
base has an internally screw-threaded recess. A flanged, perforated, screw-threaded
spud is passed through the material of the receptacle from the inside, and screwed
into the base of the faucet, the fabric or material of the receptacle being firmly
clamped between the two flanges and forming a water-tight joint.
On the spreading-bars are mounted hooks or similar devices to support a towel-
holder or rack; and pockets for the reception of combs, brushes, soap, powder, and
similar toilet articles, are also provided.
When the spreading bars are distended, and the bath ready for use, the crossed
legs are clamped by a suitable clamp-screw or like device. This enables the
bathing-apparatus to be conveniently lifted without danger of its collapsing.
I do not limit myself to any particular material, as any suitable material or
materials may be employed in the construction of my bathing apparatus.
I prefer to construct my folding bath as shown in the accompanying drawings,
wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bath as expanded ready for use;
Figure 2 is an end view of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section

page_text: taken in the plane of the line 3, 3, in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a transverse vertical
section taken in the plane of the line 4, 4, in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of
the bath when folded up; Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the bath receptacle,
on line 6, 6, in Figure 3, showing folds of the fabric.
A represents the flexible water-proof fabric of the bath, usually rubber-cloth,.
which is folded as described and secured at its ends to spreading bars, B, B which,
with the crossed legs L L, connected by braces O, O form the framework of the
bath. This frame I usually construct of wood. The legs which cross at one side
are connected by a hinge bolt or pin P, and the two on the opposite side by a
clamp-screw P When the bath is distended as in Figures 1 and 3, this clamp
screw holds it against collapsing when it is necessary to move the bath about.
In constructing my bath the material A is folded to form plaits Y, Y which are
secured to the bars B by screws or nails N, N. To impart strength I insert between
the folds of plaits Y, Y strips X, X of webbing or other stout material to reinforce
the fabric A.
When the bath is folded, as in Figure. 5, it may be secured against opening by a
hook, I, and an eye, K, arranged as shown in Figures 1 and 5.
W is the draining-cock before described, arranged in the bottom of the receptacle.
This is a very essential feature of the bath.
F and H represent pockets or pouches for combs, brushes, soap, powder-box, and
other toilet articles. These pockets or holders may be of any form, size and
number. G is a towel-rack or holder suspended from one of the stretchers or
bars B.
{
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a folding bath or bathing apparatus, a supporting-frame consisting of
two sets of legs which cross each other and are pivotally connected, cross-bars or
spreaders which connect the upper ends of each pair of said legs, and flexible,
inelastic bands which permanently connect the opposite ends, respectively, of said
cross-bars or spreaders, in combination with a water-proof flexible receptacle for
liquids, which is permanently secured between said bands at its opposite ends or
edges to said cross-bars or spreaders, substantially as set forth.
2. The construction of the bath-receptacle from flexible water-proof material
with its two sides gathered up and drawn inward and plaited into folds Y Y, the
ends of which are secured to the cross bars of the supporting frame, as set forth.
3. The construction of the folding bath, having its receptacle made. of flexible
water-proof fabric, and provided with the draining cock W in its bottom, as set
forth.
4. The construction of the folding bath, having a stretching frame and a receptacle
made of flexible material, and having pockets or pouches for the reception of toilet
articles, as set forth.