Improvements in Vapour and other Bath Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vapour and other Bath Apparatus.
I JOSEPH WITHAM of 179 Lord Street, Southport in the County of Lancaster,
Wine Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object the provision in a compact and handy
form of means or apparatus for use in bathing adapted to enable the user
alternatively to enjoy an ordinary immersion or plunge bath, a slipper or hip bath,
a douche, rain or needle bath, or a vapor bath, and each form of bath either hot or
cold.
If desired a shower bath can be combined but this will seldom be found
desirable.
In carrying out my invention I provide in a suitable chamber a bath or vessel
preferably of a reverse L-section open on the upper or wider side and arranged so
that the user may sit down in the lower or narrower portion or sit on the shelf or
seat formed by the widened part, the object of the narrowing of the lower part
being to economise area for water, the cold water may be supplied by a pipe
leading from a cistern or suitable source of supply. The warm or hot water is
obtained from a suitable hot water supply and may be arranged to deliver in
regulated quantity to another pipe also in regulated connection with the cold
supply so as to facilitate adjustment of temperature of the water which then
flows to a system of perforated distributing pipes arranged around the inner walls
of the bath or so as to deliver jets within the walls.
The floor of the bath is conveniently formed of a wooden or other raised combing
mat or floor and beneath this may be disposed a perforated distributing system or
pipe for hot vapour to be supplied to the bath. When the vapour is in use a lid
or cover is let down or placed over the user, except preferably the head which is
passed through a suitable opening made substantially vapour tight by means of a
curtain of flannel or other fabric drawn and secured around the neck of the user
leaving the head free and in the normal atmosphere. At the bottom is provided a
suitable draw off or waste pipe.
The whole of the arrangements for the supply of cold and hot water may be of
substantially ordinary description and be those for supplying the house or building
and the vapour may be supplied by a small boiler or vapour producer heated by
gas, oil or other fuel.
Dated the 15th day of December 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vapour and other Bath Apparatus.
I, JOSEPH WITHAM of 179 Lord Street, Southport, in the County of Lancaster,
Wine Merchant, 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:-
The present invention has for its object the provision in a compact and handy
form of means or apparatus for use in bathing, adapted to enable the user
alternatively to enjoy an ordinary immersion or slipper or hip bath, a douche, rain
or needle bath, or a vapour bath, and each form of bath either hot or cold.

page_text: If desired a shower bath can be combined, but this will seldom be found
desirable.
In carrying out my invention I provide in a suitable chamber a bath or vessel
preferably of a reversed section open on the upper or wider side, and arranged
so that instead of lying down the user may sit down on the seat formed by the
widened part one object of the narrowing of the lower part being to economise area
for water, the cold water may be supplied by a pipe leading from a cistern or other
suitable source of supply.
The warm or hot water is obtained from a cylinder or convenient or suitable hot
water supply and may be arranged to deliver in regulated quantity to another pipe
also in regulated connection with the cold supply, so as to facilitate adjustment of
temperature of the water which then flows to a system of perforated distributing
pipes arranged around the inner walls, of the bath, or so as to deliver jets within
the walls. On the floor of the bath is conveniently formed a mat or platform which
for cleanliness and comfort may be made of galvanized iron bars placed close
together but this mat may be of other material and beneath this may be disposed
a perforated galvanized metal pipe for the supplying and distributing of steam or
heated vapour in the bath or equivalent device. When the vapour is being used
the user draws down a hinged or other lid or cover passing the head through a
circular opening made substantially vapour tight, by means of a curtain of flannel
or other fabric drawn and secured around the neck of the user, leaving the head
free and in the normal atmosphere. At the bottom is provided a suitable draw off
or waste pipe.
The whole of the arrangements for the supply of cold and hot water may be of a
substantially ordinary description and be those for supplying the house or building,
and the vapour may be supplied by a small boiler and vapour producer heated by
009 oil or other fuel
Figure 1 shews a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus designed for
carrying out my invention taken at about the line 1. 1. of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the apparatus taken at about the line 2. 2. of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an external elevation or front view of the same showing the lid or cover
open.
A indicates a portion of walls, which may be those enclosing a chamber suitable
to contain the apparatus and form a dressing room. a is the bath here shewn of
inverted section (see Fig. 1) of which the projection or ledge a¹ forms a seat for
the bather the space formed by the lower leg a of this bath being of restricted
length economises water space. a³ is a mat made of galvanized iron rods for the
bathers feet to rest or stand on. a a are projections at the sides of the seat a¹
which serve as steps or rests in entering or leaving the bath. The bath is covered
by a hinged cover a, a being hinges. a' is an aperture in the cover which is fitted
with elastic curtain as so that when the bather is in the bath, the lid may be closed,
the user's head and neck being passed through the aperture, the curtain fitted to
the neck preventing the escape of vapour.
b is a smaller chamber adjacent to a, in which is located a boiler or kettle c
preferably copper, heated by a gas stove d below. This boiler c is connected by a
pipe c' with the interior of the chamber a at a³, for supply of vapour to the
perforated coil a¹º, for distribution into that chamber. is an exit pipe for
products of combustion from the stove d. e is a pipe for supply of cold water to
the bath, e¹ being the valve for controlling same; this pipe communicates with a
supply cistern not shewn. f is a similar pipe for supply of hot water, controlled by
a valve f', and supplied from a cylinder or cistern also not shewn. 9, 9 are a series
of perforated pipes here shown as fixed round the four walls of the bath so as to
give efficient distribution on all sides having a series of jets arranged to deliver fine

page_text: streams of hot or cold water on to the body of the user; or toward the centre of the
bath and the hot and cold pipes of supply are connected in any convenient manner
to these distribution spray pipes and controlled by accessible valves, so that the
jets of water may be attemperated as desired. is the waste water pipe controlled
by suitable plug for discharge of the contents of the bath. is a door to enclose
the opening to the chamber 6, through which access is had to the stove d. is a
safety valve to boiler c.
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 :-
1 The combination or arrangement and use of parts of apparatus for bathing
the human body in vapour, or hot or cold water in manner and for the purpose set
forth.
2 The combination or arrangement and use of parts of bath apparatus, adapted
for alternative employment in obtaining a cold or warm sitz bath, a needle, spray
or rain bath or a steam or vapour bath, in a compact and convenient form as set
forth.
Dated the 6th day of July 1891.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.