Improvements in Hot Air or Vapour and Shower Baths for Domestic Use.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 18.5-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hot Air or Vapour and Shower Baths for
Domestic Use.
I, WILLIAM STEWART WALFORD, of Dallinghoo Rectory, Wickham Market,
Suffolk, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved portable or domestic Turkish or
Russian vapour bath and to a graduated hot and cold shower apparatus for use in
connection therewith. The object of the invention, so far as it applies to the hot
air or vapour bath proper, is to provide a collapsible cabinet which when not in use
may be folded into a small compass, whilst the shower apparatus for use in
connection therewith is designed to be easily charged and to provide both a hot
and cold or a graduated douche. The cabinet is made of wood, papier-maché, or
patent wire-wove waterproof paper, or Willesden paper panels, and wooden stiles,
the back being higher than the front. The whole stands on castors and is floorless.
It is constructed of four walls or sides and a sloping lid. The front has two doors
which open inward and fold back against the two side walls, which in turn fold
back against the back wall. The back wall has two narrow ends, one wider than
the other so that the folding sides hinged thereto may fold over one another. The
back wall has a narrow top or ledge in the centre of which a recess is formed to
receive the back of the neck of the bather. The main portion of the cabinet is
covered with a loose lid of the same construction as the sides. This is drawn up
into place by the bather and is supported from slipping down by dowels or pins on
the lower edge of the two sides which fit into corresponding slots in the lid.
A recess is cut out of the lid in the centre to receive the front of the neck of the
bather. Halfway down the lid in two of the panels, armholes are cut with sliding
shutters underneath, for the purpose of thrusting the hand through to wipe the face
or turn the leaves of a book, which rests upon a book-rest which can be fixed upon
the lid. All the joints of the cabinet are tongued and grooved so as to retain the
heat. The seat is formed of webbing or sailcloth, with hooks attached to the ends
which are hooked into slotted metal plates let into the opposite sides of the cabinet
so that the hammock seat thus suspended between the two sides at a few inches
from the back may be adjusted to suit the height of the bather. Within the
cabinet is placed a lamp of methylated spirit or a lamp fitted with a receiver above,
into which water is placed to generate vapour if a vapour-bath be required. Or a
jet of gas, or a steam pipe, may be introduced and placed anywhere within the
four walls. The second part of the portable combination domestic Turkish bath
consists of the graduated hot and cold water shower bath. The shower bath
consists of a double cistern suspended in a carrier or bail frame formed of a hoop
and upright side pieces connected to a detachable crosspiece or handle provided
with eyes or loops for cords. The tripod main frame comprises pillars connected
to annular foot and head frames in which the cistern is adapted to be hoisted and
suspended by means of tackle. For this purpose the cords pass over suspension
and guide pulleys suitably mounted in proper positions on the head of the frame
and are connected to a yoke to which the tackle is connected. This tackle may
be a double or treble purchase block tackle which is made fast to the foot frame
as an abutment or fulcrum. The shower head consists of two cisterns fitted one

page_text: above the other, there being a valve in the upper cistern and a valve in the lower
cistern. The valve in the upper cistern is connected with a lever mounted on a
platform which spans the top cistern diagonally. A tube is fixed in the top cistern
connected with the bottom of the upper cistern and the platform above, through
which the attachment to the valve of the lower cistern passes and is connected at
the other end with another lever which is secured upon the same platform. The
other ends of the two levers have pendent pull handles. The cisterns themselves
are made separately, the upper one being seated on and fitting into the lower one
so as to be detachable in order that the valves may be examined if required.
Underneath the bottom cistern is a detachable rose through which the hot and cold
water d'escends. The hot water is first put into the top cistern' then the upper
When this is empty
valve is opened to let the water descend. to the lower cistern.
it is recharged with cold water, or vice versa, to suit the bather's requirements.
The cisterns are lowered for charging, and hoisted when charged, by means of the
tackle above mentioned: When thus hoisted it is retained by the bail or carrier
engaging with a counter weighted self-engaging pivoted hook supported by an
arched bridge-piece that spans the head frame, a stop being provided to limit the
hoisting motion. Underneath the top annular frame a curtain hook is supported
upon rests attached to the posts from which a curtain is suspended by means of
rings. The curtain has a hem at bottom', enclosing a galvanized iron ring made to
fit the inside of a circular sponge-bath which stands loose within the main frame
to catch the water from above.
Dited this 21st do'r of August 1894.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Hot Air or Vapour and Shower Baths for
Domestic Use.
I, WILLIAM STEWART WALFORD, of Dallinghoo Rectory, Wickham' Market;
Suffolk, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 an improved portable or domestic Turkish or Russian
vapour bath and to a graduated hot and cold shower apparatus.for use in connection
therewith. The object of the invention, so far as it applies to the hot air or
vapour bath proper, is to provide a collapsible cabinet, which when not in use may
be folded into a small compass, whilst the shower apparatus.for use in connection
therewith is designed. to be easily charged and to provide both a hot and cold or a
graduated shower or douche.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet erected for use.
similar view, with the lid removed.
Figure 3 shews the lid separately.
Figure 4 shews the body of the cabinet collapsed, and
Figure 2 is a
Figure 5 shews by enlarged detail the mode of suspending the bather's.seat.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the douche apparatus, parts being broken away
to shew the interior.
The cabinet, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, is made of wood, papier-niaché, or patent wire-
wove waterproof paper, or Willesden paper panels, and wooden stiles, the back
It is
being higher than the front. The whole stands on castors and is floorless.

page_text: constructed of four walls or sides and a sloping lid. The front is formed by two
doors A. A¹, hinged to the sides B, B1, so as to open inward and fold back against
the two sides B, B1, which are hinged at b so as to fold back against the back
wall C. The back wall C has two narrow return ends c, c', one wider than the
other so that the folding sides B, B1, hinged thereto may fold flat, the one in front
of the other, against the back C, as shewn in Figure 4. The back wall C has a
narrow top 2, in the centre of which a recess E is formed to receive the back of
the neck of the bather. The main portion of the cabinet is covered with a loose
lid D of the same construction as the sides. This is drawn up into place by the
bather and is supported from slipping down by dowels or pins d fixed on the lower
edges of the two sides of the cabinet and fitting into corresponding slots d' in the
lid. A recess E' is cut out of the lid in the centre which, together with the recess E
in the top c², gives passage to the neck of the bather. Halfway down the lid in
two of the panels armholes F are provided. to give passage to the hands for the
purpose of wiping the face or turning the leaves of a book which may be placed
upon a book-rest G fixed, if required, upon the lid, the armholes being normally
closed by sliding shutters f on the underside of the lid. All the joints of the
cabinet are tongued and grooved so as to retain the heat. The seat H is formed of
webbing or sailcloth, with hooks h attached to the ends which are hooked into
slotted metal plates ', affixed to the sides B, B₁, of the cabinet so that the
hammock seat thus suspended between the two sides at a few inches from the back
may be adjusted to suit the height of the bather. Within the cabinet is placed a
lamp I burning methylated spirit or a lamp fitted with a receiver above, into which
water is placed to generate vapour if a vapour-bath be required. Or a jet of
gas, or a steam pipe, may be introduced and placed anywhere within the
four walls.
The second part of the portable combination domestic Turkish bath consists of
the graduated hot and cold water shower bath illustrated in Figure 6. The
shower bath consists of a double cistern K, K', suspended in a carrier or bail frame
formed of a hoop L and upright side pieces / connected to a detachable cross-
bar or handle, to which are connected by eyes or loops the suspension cords M.
The tripod main frame comprises pillars N of convenient height connected to
annular foot and head frames O, O', in which the cistern is adapted to be hoisted
and suspended by means of a tackle P. For this purpose the cords M pass
over suspension pulleys m and guide pulleys m', suitably mounted in proper
positions on an arched bridge frame carried by the top frame O¹ and are
connected to a yoke Q to which the tackle P is connected.
This tackle may
be a double or treble purchase block tackle which is made fast to the foot
frame as an abutment or fulcrum.
The shower head consists of the two cisterns K, K', already referred to, fitted
one above the other, and so arranged that the contents of the upper cistern K
can only be discharged upon the bather by first passing through the lower
Cistern K. For this purpose a lift valve R is provided in the bottom of the upper
Cistern and another similar valve S in the bottom of the lower cistern, both valves
having guides and stops to limit their rise and to ensure prompt and accurate
closing. The valve R in the upper cistern is connected with a lever r fulcrumed
or a cross-bar T which spans the top cistern and provided with a pendent pull
handler. A tube t rises from the bottom of the upper cistern K and through it
passes the attachments connected to the valve S of the lower cistern and to
another lever s', also fulcrumed upon the same bridge bar and provided with a
pendent pull handles. The tube t whilst allowing free movement of the valve
attachment prevents the passing of water from the upper to the lower cistern
except through the valve R. The cisterns K, K', themselves, are made separately,
the upper one K being seated on and fitting into the lower one K', to which it is
detachably fastened as at k, in order that the valves may be examined if required.
Underneath the bottom cistern is a detachable rose U through which the hot
and cold water is showered. The hot water which is contained for use in the

page_text: lower cistern is charged thereinto by being first put into the top cistern K and
then run through the upper valve R into the lower cistern K', after which the
upper cistern is filled up with cold water. The cisterns are lowered for charging,
and hoisted when charged, by means of the tackle P above mentioned. When
thus hoisted they are retained in position by the cross-bar of the bail or
carrier engaging with a pair of counterweighted self-engaging books V pivoted at
on the arched bridge frame O2, the apex of the bowed cross bar l'acting as a stop to
limit the hoisting motion. The hooks V are normally held in position of engage-
ment by the counterweight, and are disengaged when necessary by means of
the cord passing over the guide pulley v³. Underneath the top annular
frame O', and inside the pillars N, a curtain hoop w is supported upon brackets
attached to the posts and carries a curtain W suspended by means of rings.
The curtain has a hem or loops at bottom to carry a galvanized iron ring made
to fit the inside of a circular sponge bath X which stands loose within the main
frame to catch the water from above. A hoop y is mounted somewhat above and
outside of the top annular frame O', and carries a valance Y adapted to conceal the
upper portion of the structure.
It will be obvious that the above described arrangement of cisterns and valves,
whilst admitting of any reasonably desirable graduation between the hot and cold
showers, effectually prevents the possibility of the bather accidentally receiving
any part of the cold shower before the discharge of at least a certain proportion of
the hot water.
In addition to the above described shower arrangement, an independent
douche arrangement may be provided, consisting of a separate branch pipe, with
cock, inserted near the bottom of each of the cisterns K, K', these two branches
discharging into a common pipe connected by means of a flexible hose, with a
small rose adapted to be passed by hand over the person of the bather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described collapsible cabinet adapted to fold into a small compass,
substantially as specified.
2. The combined hot and cold shower apparatus, consisting essentially of
superposed cisterus provided with valves and discharging the upper into the
lower and the lower into a rose, in combination with hoisting tackle and self-
engaging suspension hooks, substantially as specified.
3. The herein described combined hot and cold shower apparatus constructed
and arranged for use substantially as specified.
Dated this 4th day of June 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.