Various Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Various Purposes.
I JULIE BLANCHE FRENCH of the City of Boston State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, Gentlewoman 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 improvements in baths or in vessels capable of being
used as such and also for other purposes such as general wash tub provision safe
or refrigerator.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent front elevations of my
apparatus as adapted for different purposes.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section. Figure 4 a removable refrigerating
case with one end removed to shew interior arrangements Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11, are details of parts hereinafter described.
A is a rectangular vessel formed of wood or other suitable material of about the
same dimensions as an ordinary full sized bath for domestic use; it may be con-
veniently supported on legs A¹ and is provided with one or more outlets which may
be closed by plugs in the usual manner. When intended for use as a bath the
vessel requires no additional furniture except a back-rest which consists of a concave
support B formed of wood or other suitable material fixed at the required incli-
nation or slope to framework B' the whole of which fits into the end of the bath
and may be secured in any desired manner as for instance by pins fitting into holes
in the bottom of the bath. By constructing this back support of fluted wood or
corrugated metal not necessarily concave, it may be used also as a washing board.
When required for use as a back support a piece of canvas may be placed over the
corrugated face to prevent any discomfort therefrom. An end elevation of a com-
bined back support and wash board constructed on this principle is shewn in
Figure 11, B' indicating a sheet of corrugated zinc, although other metal or
fluted wood may be employed. A soap box A' may be suspended by hooks A³
from the rim of the bath.
In order to adapt the vessel A to laundry or other purposes requiring vessels of
smaller dimensions one or more watertight partitions C may be used. A semi- .
circular groove C is formed in the side and bottom edges of the partition and the
two lower angles are rounded off. At the top of the partition on each side is a

page_text: recess
.
or mortice C. A packing of circular india rubber or equivalent solid
resilient material c is laid within the groove C¹ and the ends thereof secured within
the recesses C by nails, screws or other suitable means. In the sides and bottom
of the vessel A is formed a groove C³ corresponding to the groove C¹ in the
partition, the acute angles formed at the junction of sides and bottom being con-
verted into curves by blocks C grooved on the face so as to receive the rounded
corners of the partition C. Taper pins C are inserted into the bottom of the
partition (see detail drawing Figure 6) and when the latter is placed within
the vessel A these pins enter metal sockets D (see detail drawing Figure 7) let into
the bottom thereof. As a means of securing the metal sockets the upper rim is
turned over and downwards and "serrated so as to form pointed teeth or equivalent
which can be driven into the wood floor of the vessel. The pins C³ serve both as
guides to lead the partition to its exact position and to prevent it being displaced
when once fitted. In order to secure a perfectly tight joint considerable pressure
is necessary to thoroughly bed the india rubber packing in the grooves C and C³.
For this purpose I employ a screw and lever arrangement at each side of the
partition. A lever E (see Figure 8) is fulcrummed between lugs El attached to a
plate E' which covers the recess or mortice C. By tightening the screw E³ the
end E of this lever can be raised and by slackening the screw the weighted end E*
drops and enters the recess or mortice C³ and admits of the partition being fitted
into its place. By turning down the screw E the end E of the lever is raised and
enters a slot or recess F formed in a metal plate F¹ let into the side of the vessel
at the upper portion of the groove C. The upward motion of the end E* of the
lever being checked as soon as it reaches the top of the slot F any further pressure
applied through the screw E³ tends to force the partition downwards and to
compress the india rubber packing c and form a tight joint.
The vessel A may thus be divided into two or more compartments in which
distinct operations may be performed, such for instance, as washing rinseing
and blueing.
If the apparatus or a portion thereof is intended to be used as a refrigerator a
metal casing G such as is shown separately in Figure 4 is fitted into one of the
compartments as shewn in Figure 2. The case is provided with angle iron
ledges G¹ which support shelves G' either plain or perforated and also a trough or
pan G³ to contain ice, a pipe G being provided to carry off the ice-water. Thus
fitted the vessel A may be used to preserve meat, fish liquors or other articles of
consumption to which an elevated temperature is detrimental. In order to prevent
the conduction of heat a space may be left between the sides of the case G and the
vessel A. In some cases a perforated false bottom such as shewn at J in Figures 1
and 10 may be fitted into one of the compartments. This will be found useful for
salting or curing purposes.
If used for bath and laundry purposes alone the vessel A. may be without lid or
cover but if used as a safe or refrigerator a hinged or otherwise removable cover for
each compartment must be used as shewn at H in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:-
1. The combination with a bath or vessel such as A of a movable back support
such as B consisting of a hollowed shape and supporting framing B¹ constructed
and arranged to fit into the vessel A and to be inserted or removed at pleasure
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with a bath or vessel such as A of a fluted or corrugated
board such as B' supported by framing such as B and adapted to serve either as a
back support or wash board substantially as specified.
3. The watertight joint between the centre-board or partition C and the bath or
vessel A consisting of a solid resilient packing such as C compressed in grooves in
the walls of A and edges of C substantially as specified.
در

page_text: 4. The device for securing the partition O consisting of a lever such as E
pivotted upon C its outer end E having a bearing in or upon the wall of A and
its inner end actuated by a screw such as E' substantially as specified.
5. As a means of protecting the pin holes in the bottom of A the sockets D
having toothed pointed or sharp edged rims which enter A substantially as
specified.
0
6. The combination with the partition C of corner pieces C* arranged substan-
tially as specified for the purpose of converting the angles formed by the walls and
bottom of the vessel A into curves upon which the packing c may take secure holi
substantially as specified.
7. The combination with a vessel or bath such as A of a movable ice box G
for the purpose of converting A into a refrigerating chamber substantially as
specified.