An Improved Apparatus for Administering Douches and Injections.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Administering Douches and Injections.
I, ARNAUD JOSEPH DOMECQ-CAZAUX, of No. 6 Rue de Châteandun, Paris,
in the Republic of France, 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 an apparatus or bidet for automatically administering
douches and injections by the weight of a person seated thereon.
The accompanying drawing represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
It is constructed of a case of rectangular form, A indicating the sides of the
case which are connected to the bottom by a hinge C. Two springs R are placed
in the corners of the case at the end opposite the hinge and serve to raise the back
part of the case. A flat spring D is fixed against the rear short side and serves to
keep the case closed by hooking onto a catch E fixed to the bottom B. A push-
knob P serves to unhook the spring D. The legs of the apparatus are screwed
into the four corners of the bottom B. A basin V of oval shape is held in the
case by means of two supports, one of which, situated in front, is formed by a
tube T communicating with an opening O in the basin and firmly connected to
the basin by a triangular piece U and passing into a hole made in the front short
side of the case. The other support Y situated at the back consists of a bar fixed
to the basin and located beneath the upper board in a groove made in the case.
Another bar or strip placed flatwise beneath the wood and pivotting upon a screw
prevents the other bar from passing back through the groove. The bottom of the
basin is provided with three holes in which are fixed respectively a cock H, a
cock I and a nozzle J. To the latter is attached an india-rubber tube having
inserted in its length a cock of hard india-rubber and in its end a nozzle for
giving an injection or for washing according to requirements. The cock I is pro-
vided on its top with a small rose. The nozzle J is connected underneath the
basin with the cock I by means of a tube on which is fixed a larger branch
tube K.
The basin is provided at its lower part with a flange on which is secured, by
ligatures, the edge of an india-rubber band S, S lined with cloth on its outer side.
The other edge of the band is fastened by ligatures to an oval second or movable
bottom G of the same size as the bottom of the basin and fixed by projecting
pieces Z, Z over an oval opening, rather smaller than the movable bottom and
made in the bottom B of the case, the whole forming a kind of bellows. The
A cock F screwed
ligatures are applied before placing the basin in the case.
upon the tube Toutside the case serves to draw off liquid from the basin. The
movable bottom G is provided at its centre with a large circular opening
hermetically closed by a cover N provided with a screw-threaded ring X, X screwing
onto a flange on the movable bottom and forming a tight joint against the
movable bottom by the interposition of an india-rubber ring. A handle allows
of this cover being unscrewed when requiring to clean the interior of the bellows
and of screwing the cover on again.
A bent tube L through which the water is drawn up is connected to the branch
tube K by an india-rubber tube. To the lower end of the tube L is fixed a cup
adapted to receive a float M formed of a truncated cone of cork and an india-
rubber disc connected by an eyelet which passes freely over the tube L. The
tube L is obviously introduced into the eyelet of the float before fixing the cup •
A vertical guide formed of thick copper wire is fixed to the centre of the cover N
and serves to keep the tube L in a vertical position and the orifice of the said tube

page_text: a short distance from the bottom of the cover. It is introduced into the tube L
when the cover N is screwed on.
To make use of an apparatus of this construction, water is poured into the
basin V, after having opened the cock H, and the spring D is unhooked by pressing
the knob P. Under the action of the springs R, the case, being hinged at C,
assumes an inclined position from back to front and this movement causes the
water to pass by suction into the bellows through the cock H. It is only necessary
then to close the said cock so that, when a person sits upon the apparatus,
the weight of his or her body will cause the water to gush through the douche
cock I or the injection nozzle according to which of the cocks is opened.
. As long as there is any water in the bellows the float M swings on the surface
and allows the water to pass through the tube L, and the float falling with the level
of the water eventually enters the cup of the tube L. The india-rubber disc of
this float then forms a valve by resting on the edge of the cup and on the cover N
and air is therefore prevented from following the water.
The water which has been used remains in the basin and does not mix with the
water in the bellows.
When requiring to carry the apparatus about the four legs and the cock F are
unscrewed and placed in the basin and a cover placed over the basin.
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 :-
The improved apparatus or bidet for automatically administering douches and
injections by the weight of a person seated thereon, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 24th day of September 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.