An Improved Portable Shower Bath Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Shower Bath Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM EMMERT DOBBINS, of Ashbourne, County of Montgomery, State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Architect, 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 has relation to shower bath apparatus, and consists in the device
bereinafter particularly described and claimed.
The object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus for shower bath
purposes which may be readily folded in a neat compact form and readily applied
above any bath tub for shower purposes, having an enclosing water-proof screen
open at the top and bottom and surrounding the person, confining the splash within
the screen and preventing damage to the surrounding walls and floor.
I am aware that enclosing water-proof screens for shower purposes have hereto-
fore been known and used, and do not claim such screen broadly, my invention
residing in the structure hereinafter particularly described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a partially sectional view of the apparatus in position above the bath
tub, and ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible distending frame, in the preferred
form, open.
Fig. 3 shows the distending rods removed and the frame partially collapsed.
Fig. 4 represents the frame and screen rolled in a compact portable form; when
rolled more loosely the distending arms, flexible pipe and douche may be included
in the roll in the compact bundle.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the perforated side of the preferred form of spiral douche,
and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same.
Fig. 7 represents a modified construction of distending arms applied to the
collapsible frame.
Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of douche for medicated shower purposes.
The supporting frame is preferably constructed of the two flexible bands, A, A',
hinged or pivoted together at a, a', and adapted to form a circle or oval when
distended; the rods, b. or chains if desired, are provided with hooked ends adapted
to be inserted in orifices in the bands, A, A', so that when in position, as shown in
Fig. 2, the bands will be circularly distended and prevented from collapsing; the
rods or chains, b, may be readily unhooked and the bands, A, A', sprung together
upon their hinged joints when it is desired to transport the apparatus, and the
material composing the screen may be rolled upon it enclosing also the other parts
of the apparatus. In the preferable construction, shown in Fig. 2, the rods, b, are
centrally secured upon a centre disk or plate, A2, having a keyed central orifice, a².
In this construction, as shown in Fig. 2, the hooks on the outer ends of the rods, b,
which rods are loosely jointed to the plate, A2, engage in the flexible bands, A, A',
and hold them in their distended circular, or oval, position; when it is desired
to collapse the frame the rods, b, are disconnected from the bands, A, A¹, and
folded together upon the plate, A2, so as to occupy but little space. The frame is
suspended through the medium of chains or cords, such as c, secured to the
bands, A, A', and connected to a central chain, or cord, c', which is designed to be
secured to a hook provided in the ceiling. The douche, D, when a part of portable
frame, is adjustably secured centrally between the bands, A, A', upon the distending

page_text: mechanism, and when the apparatus is to be applied to a fixed douche provided
above the bath the supporting frame is so adjusted upon it by means of the
suspending cord that the douche will occupy a central position in or about the
bands, A, A¹.
In the preferable construction the douche, D, has provided upon its upper face a
key or oblong projection, d, adapted to fit in the slots, a³, a provided in the
plate, A2, so that after being inserted a half turn will key it in position and hold it
securely to the under side of the plate, A².
When the construction shown in Fig. 7 is employed the douche, D, may be
centrally secured in position upon the distending rods, b, by any suitable means,
such as by loops f, secured to the upper part of the douche, D, through which the
rods, b, are passed before being hooked into the bands, A, A¹. I preferably
construct the douche in a spiral form, as shown in the drawing, thus securing better
water pressure results by this construction, though any ordinary form of douche
may be employed. A flexible rubber hose, b', is connected with the douche, D, of
sufficient length to connect it with the water spigots of the bath tub. To regulate
The temperature of the water, as in tubs where independent hot and cold water
spigots are employed, I provide at the lower end of the rubber tube, &', a Y having
flexible rubber hose upon its branches so as to connect with the respective spigots.
though I do not claim this as a feature of my invention. Upon the bands, A, A'.
provide a screen of waterproof material, such as gossamer cloth, or thin sheet
rubber, or like material, preferably tubular in form, of a desired length to allow
the lower end to protrude into the tub. The screen is preferably provided with a
slit extending from the bottom to about half to two thirds the length of the screen
to facilitate getting in and out of the screen. I preferably provide a seam circum-
ferentially around the lower end of the screen and fill the same with shot, or like
material, for weighting the same in order to allow the screen to better retain its
position. The screen, E, is secured at the upper end to the bands, A, A', in any
suitable manner, as by sewing through perforations provided in the lower edge of
the bands, or by other desired method.
Another form of douche which I employ, as where a medicated shower is
desired, is that shown in Fig. 8. To the under side of the plate, A2, is rigidly
secured a casing, C, preferably cylindrical in form, having a perforated bottom, c;
within the casing, C, is provided a smaller receptacle, C, rigidly secured to the
under side of the plate, A2, or to the casing, C. The receptacle, C, is connected
with an orifice provided in the plate, A2, by means of the cylindrical neck, c², to allow
of the introduction into the receptacle from without of the soluble medicated
material to be employed. A screw cap, c³, is provided upon the plate, A2, in the
mouth of the cylindrical neck, c², for closing the orifice. The upper portion of the
receptacle, C, is perforated at c; a rigid water pipe, w, is introduced at the side
of the receptacle, C¹, near the bottom, to which pipe the rubber hose is connected
in the usual manner; a faucet, w¹, being also preferably provided upon the pipe, w,
for regulating the flow of the water. In operation the water passes into the
receptacle, C, at or near the bottom and forces its way up through the salt, or
soluble medicated material desired to be employed in the shower which is provide
in the receptacle, C¹, and after passing through such material is forced out through
the perforations, c', and flows down into the cylindrical casing, C₁, and in the form
of a shower through the perforated plate, c. By this construction a medicated
shower bath of any desired medicated material applicable for such purposes can be
readily employed by simply substituting this construction of douche shown in
Fig. 8 for the form of douche previously described. The douche is held in position
by attaching the holding rods or chains, b, to the flange, a of the casing, C.
As before stated my invention in its portable construction is adapted to be
applied either to a fixed shower or to include within its combination a portable
shower in itself having combined frame, screen distending mechanisın, douche an
flexible hose.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. A portable shower apparatus consisting of a detachable douche, folding
distending bands, detachable distending mechanism for distending said bands and
for centrally supporting said douche, and a water-proof screen open at top and
bottom and secured to said distending bands, substantially as described.
2. A portable folding shower apparatus consisting in a flexible tubular water-
proof screen open at top and bottom, a hinged distending band provided in the
upper end of said screen, detachable distending mechanism adapted to said band
for distending the same, detachable douche adapted to be centrally supported
within said band when distended upon said distending mechanisin, and a flexible
hose connected with said douche, substantially as described.
3. A portable shower apparatus, an elongated tubular water screen of flexible
water-proof material, collapsible distending band provided upon the upper edge of
said screen, and removable rods or chains adapted to said bands for distending the
same, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a tubular elongated water screen composed of thin
flexible water-proof material, a folding distending flexible band provided in the
upper end of the screen, adjustable distending mechanism for distending said band
and holding the screen open at top, and means for suspending said band to the
ceiling, substantially as described.
5. A folding portable shower apparatus consisting of the bands, A, A³, hinged
as at a, a, distending rods or chains, b, adjustably secured to said bands A, A',
and tubular water-proof screen secured to the lower edge of said bands, substantially
as described.
6. In a portable shower apparatus, collapsible distending bands, A, A', hinged
as at a, a, detachable distending rods or chains, b, and tubular flexible screen
secured to the bands, A, A', and shot weighted at its lower ends in a seam provided
for the purpose, substantially as described.
7. A portable folding shower apparatus consisting of hinged collapsible flexible
bands, A, A, hinged as at a, a, detachable distending mechanism consisting of a
central plate, A2, and rods or chains, b, secured thereto adapted to engage in said
bands, douche, D, and means for keying said douche to said plate, a flexible rubber
hose secured to said douche and flexible water-proof screen provided upon the
distending bands, A, A', weighted at its lower end, and means for suspending said
band and screen, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.