Jointed Folding Tub, or Touring Tub.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 8th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
Jointed Folding Tub, or Touring Tub.
I, SÉBASTIEN RIFFAUD, of 39, Rue du Rempart, Rochefort, Department of
Charente-Inférieure, France, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The present invention concerns a folding tub for travelling.
It is composed of a certain number of crossed blades, connected at their ends
and middle part, and having a similar contrivance to that of extensible flower-pot
covers. The blades have a certain bend; they are made of wood cut with the
grain, of steel or aluminium. When they are made of wood, their ends are
strengthened by means of metallic tips which are inoxidable and which cover them
exactly and their middle part is provided with a metallic ring.
Each joint is obtained by means of a small inoxidable bolt the stem of which
is wormed so that the blades through which they pass are moderately tightened
by the nut.
In one of the series of extremity joints, each joint stem extends beyond the bolt
head and assumes the form of an ordinary collar stud with a spherical head;
these studs are intended to be introduced into holes made at a short distance from
the circular periphery of a water-tight texture which forms the tub by opening the
crossed blades which then form the support.
A running cord placed around the circumference of the texture gathers this
texture together between the stud holes, at the same time preventing it from
creasing, it limits the opening of the tub and graduates the diameter from zero to
à maximum.
1000
L.
DUVINAGE,
Patent Agent, Rue des Princes, Brussels, Belgium.
Jointed Folding Tub, or Touring Tub.
I, SÉBASTIEN RIFFAUD, of 39, Rue du Rempart, Rochefort, Department of
Charente Inférieure, France, Chemist, 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 a portable tub composed of a suitable waterproof
material cut in circular form and hung by means of buttonholes on to an arrange-
ment of slightly curved strips of wood or metal arranged in lazy-tongs fashion and
capable of folding together so as to reduce the bulk of the apparatus to that of a
large umbrella.

page_text: Figure 1 shows the apparatus open and ready for use.
Figure 2 shows the apparatus folded and kept closed by means of the handled
strap a.
Figure 3 shows a segment of the waterproof tissue ready to be attached to the
button and shewing a part of the cord passed through the hem of the fabric.
Figure 4 shows a segment of the fabric spread out.
Figures 5 and 6 show the upper and intermediate joints of a strip of wood in
outside front elevation.
Figure 7 shows the lower joint of the same strip inside front elevation.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are views showing the joints indicated in Figures 5, 6 and 7
in section.
The jointed strips d are of wood or of metal and are slightly curved. The
wooden strips are provided at their ends and at their centres with a fitting or
furniture of an inoxidisable metal e with the object of preventing the wear of the
wood in the opening and closing movements.
The strips of metal are of smaller dimensions as regards their width and thickness
than the strips of wood. Each joint is made by means of a bolt f of inoxidisable
metal, the shank of which is screw-threaded in such a manner that the two strips
through which the said shank extends will be moderately pressed together by the
nut g when the latter is screwed up. This nut has the shape of a spherical cap and
is formed with two holes h to allow of tightening up the same; it is held in place
by means of a slight rivetting over of the shank. The head of the bolt which is
turned, for the intermediate and lower joints, towards the outside of the tub, is
similar to the nut. In the case of the upper joints alone, it is turned towards the
centre of the tub, and the shank of the bolt is continued beyond the head and
assumes the shape of an ordinary collar stud having a spherical head c, designed to
engage in the buttonholes. The fabric which forms the tub, is of circular flat form,
without any solid piece. It is hung by means of eight to ten buttonholes. The
use of a single piece of fabric allows of spreading it out flat, and of rolling it up
without creases, after it has been wiped, so that it can be packed under the best
conditions of preservation. However, the apparatus may also be closed without
having first removed the fabric; in this manner it will be sufficient to grasp the
fabric on a level with two intermediate joints, situated as far as possible apart one
from the other, and to impart to the whole arrangement a diverging movement
which will then render the tub ready for use in a few seconds. If the fabric..is
rolled up separately, there will, however, only be required a quarter of a minute for
inserting the buttons into the buttonholes. Along the entire periphery of the
fabric there is a slot through which is passed a tape or cord which offers the following
advantages-namely, of pleating the fabric between the buttonholes and prevent-
ing it from puckering; of limiting the opening of the tub and of adjusting the size
of its diameter; and of serving to hang up the tub or for emptying its contents.
In order to empty the tub, the strips which are held close together by means of
several turns of the cord, and which are held in the left hand, are brought together
above the pocket containing the water. Then the bottom of the pocket is grasped
by the right hand and the receptacle is suddenly inverted end over end into a pail.
The lightness of the touring tub, its small bulk, its comparative rigidity, the
strength of the mode of support of its water-proof tissue, and its convenience in
use, render it more particularly the exact article for use as a tub by all persons
living in small lodgings or who are awkwardly placed, such as travellers, tourists,
and sailors.
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

page_text: arranged in lazy-tongs fashion and capable, by means of joints, of being opened
and closed at will, and being adapted to support a waterproof fabric.
(2) In the tub specified in Claim 1, a piece of fabric cut in the form of a circle
and adapted to be attached by means of buttonholes to the aforesaid mount so as
to thereby constitute the tub proper.
(3) A cord or tape passed through a slot throughout the circumference of the
piece of fabric, and serving to regulate the diameter of the opening of the tub.
(4) A tub constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described and
shown.
8th day of November 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.