Improvements in Electric Drinking Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Drinking Vessels.
1, FREDERICK WILLIAM FLINT a citizen of the United States residing at Mount
Airy in the county of Habersham and State of Georgia, one of the United States,
gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my 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 certain improved means of applying electricity in con-
nection with suitable liquids, liquid medicines or beverages, therapeutically, to the
human or animal system; and it has for its objects to provide a device whereby the
liquid or beverage, while being imbibed, will constitute part of an electrode which will
conduct the electric current to the inucous membrane of the mouth, throat and stomach,
and distribute it to and diffuse it throughout the surfaces with which the said
liquid comes in contact, during deglutition as the current passes through the body
of the drinker as more fully hereinafter specified.
My invention consists, essentially, in a vessel constructed partly or wholly of non
conducting material, the said vessel being adapted to contain a liquid or beverage and
provided with a suitable connection whereby its contents may be connected with one
pole of a battery or other electric generator, in such manner that the vessel, in
connection with the fluid therein, will form an electrode, whereby the electric current
will be conducted to, and distributed throughout the surface with which the fluid
comes in contact in the act of swallowing the same.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification :
Figure 1 represents a sectional view of my improved device.
Figure 2 represents a perspective view thereof, showing the device in connection
with an induction coil and battery whereby the current is applied.
The letter A indicates a vessel of any suitable description, in the present instance
being represented as an ordinary drink-glass, having a disk of metal or other
conducting material B located at its bottom. The said disk is provided with a central
shank C, which extends through a central aperture in the bottom of the glass, the
lower end of said shank being screw threaded and provided with a washer D and a
nut E, by means of which the plate is secured and a water tight joint is effected. The
nut also serves as a binding device whereby the conductor from one pole of a battery
may be electrically connected to the disk.
The other pole of the battery may be connected by any suitable conductor, with an
electrode which may be applied to any portion of the body to complete the circuit.
through the body as the liquid or beverage is swallowed.
It is evident that my improved device may be variously modified without departing
from my invention-For instance-the vessel may be constructed of conducting
material, partly coated or covered with insulating material, so as to compel the current
to pass through the liquid without short-circuiting; and instead of the handle, the
vessel may be provided with a mettallic-holder, such as is used with the drinking
vessels employed in dispensing soda-water, the holder in that case forming one of the
electrodes. Or the body of the vessel may be constructed of non conducting material,
and the bottom of the conducting material, the latter being provided with a suitable
connection for one terminal of the battery.
My improved device is adapted to the treatment of various diseases in which
electricity is found to be beneficial, especially nervous diseases and diseases of the
throat, as the liquid in the latter case is applied directly to the parts affected,
conducting the current thereto and diffusing it throughout such parts.
Moreover, by the application of the current to various liquids and beverages, the
character of the same is modified, and in the case of beverages the flaver of the same

page_text: is intensified rendering the beverage more palatable and agreeable, than heretofore,
for the reason that the electric current renders the organs of taste more sensitive,
and at the same time stimulates them.
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 :-
1st. A drinking vessel constructed partly of a non-conducting and partly of a
conducting material, and provided with a suitable battery connection, the said vessel
being adapted to contain a beverage or liquid, which will serve in connection with the
said vessel as an electrode, for establishing a circuit through the body or system of the
drinker, when imbibed, substantially as specified.
2nd. A drinking vessel, constructed partly of non-conducting and partly of con-
ducting material, the latter having a suitable battery connection, in combination with
an electrode applied to the handle thereof, whereby an electric current may be established
through the body or system of the drinker, during the act of drinking from the said
vessel, substantially as specified.
3rd. A drinking vessel constructed of non conducting material, having an internal
electrode, adapted to be brought into contact with the contents of the vessel, and an
external electrode to be grasped by the hand during the act of drinking, to complete the
circuit through the body of the drinker, substantially as specified.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.

page_text: No text detected.