Improved Folding Vapour-bath.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Folding Vapour-bath.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108, Victoria Chambers, 55 and
56 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Olof
Pehrsson, of Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. Inventor,) to be as follows
:-
This invention has reference to an improved vapour-bath, whereby it is rendered
capable of being folded and conveniently stowed away in a small space when out
of use.
By this invention the framework of the bath is constructed of light bars, the
lower bars being formed with transverse openings. The lower and upper bars have
buttons provided, and the side and end covers have their upper ends passed around
the upper bars of the supporting frame, and button on the buttons thereof, and have
secured to their lower ends suitable apertured strips. The top cover has a flap
provided with a neck opening, which is buttoned on suitable buttons. The bottom
cover has upwardly inclined apertured edges, and suitable straps pass through the
strips to hold them in place. The opposite cross bars of the framework are hinged
in such manner that when the covering is removed the framework may be
collapsed.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Folding Vapour-bath.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MUNNS, of 106, 107, and 108 Victoria Chambers, Chancery
Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Olof Pehrsson, of
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. Inventor,) and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention consists in a new and improved folding bath-tub by the use of
which any one can conveniently take a Turkish or hot-vapour bath at home, and
the flexible bath-tub when not in use can be folded and rolled up in a very small
package and placed out of the way.
My invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the bath-tub arranged ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the frame-work or supporting-frame of the bath-tub
with the cover removed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the bath-tub in use.
Fig. 4 is a view taken on line aa of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows the supporting-frame folded.
Fig. 6 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the corners shown in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 illustrates in detail the steamer.
. Fig. 8 illustrates in a similar manner the alcohol-lamp which may be employed
in place of the steamer when a dry heat is desired.
The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
DQ37

page_text: Each of
Referring to the several parts by their designating numerals, 1, 1, indicate the
rear uprights of the supporting-frame of the bath-tub, the ends of which are secured
by the screws 2 to the ends of the rear upper and lower cross-bars 3, 4.
the said cross-bars is formed in two sections, being jointed and hinged at its centre
to adapt it to be folded together, as shown in Fig. 5, while when straightened
out the cross-bars are held open by slides 5, sliding in flat staples 5. To
the inner ends of the upper bar-sections are hinged by staples passing through
their eyed upper ends brace-rods 6, the hooked lower ends of which are
caught in eyes 7 on the uprights 1 when the frame is opened out, to brace and
strengthen it.
8, 8, indicate the bottom side bars of the frame, the ends of which are secured by
screws 9 to the lower ends of the rear and forward uprights 1, 1, and 10, 10, the
front uprights 10 being about one-third the height of the rear uprights, as shown.
The lower and upper ends of the front uprights are connected by cross-bars 11, 12,
the ends of which are secured to the ends of the said uprights by screws 13, while
to the upper ends of the front uprights are secured in a similar manner the lower
ends of inclined side pieces or bars 14, 14. The upper ends of these side bars are
secured by screws to the forward ends of short top bars 15, which in turn have
their rear ends secured by screws to the upper ends of the rear uprights 1, 1. The
front cross-bars 11 and 12 are made in sections and hinged at their centres like the
rear cross-bars 4, 3, and have similar locking-slides 5 to hold them in their open
position. The upper part of the frame may be braced, if additional strength is
required, by means of a brace-rod 16, secured at one end by a staple to one of the
inclined bars 14, and having a hooked free end which is caught in an eye 17 in the
other inclined bar 14, as shown. If not desired for use, this brace-rod can hang
down from its hinged end or may be entirely removed.
The cover of my bath-tub may be made of rubber, cloth, or any suitable material,
the top 18 being. formed with an opening 19, which fits around the neck of the
person using the bath. The edges of the top cover 18 and the upper edges of the
sides and ends 2021 of the cover are passed over and around the upper bars of
the supporting-frame and buttoned tightly on buttons 22 on the under side of those
bars, as shown in Fig. 3. To the lower ends of the sides and ends of the cover are
secured strips 23, of wood or metal, and these lower ends extend down within the
upwardly-turned ends of the bottom piece 24 of the cover. Straps 25 pass through
the strips 23, through the upwardly-turned ends of the bottom 24, and through
holes 26 in the bottom bars 3, 8, 11, of the supporting-frame, their outer ends being
tied or secured on buttons 27, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. By this arrange-
ment the cover is secured in a thoroughly air-tight manner around the supporting-
frame. The top 18 of the cover is formed with a flap 18", which is left open until
the person taking a bath has entered the bath-tub, when the flap is buttoned like
the rest of the top cover. Around the neck-opening 19 is fastened a collar 28,
about four inches high, of soft cloth, and having running through it a draw-string.
This collar is drawn by its string tight around the neck, effectually preventing the
escape of the steam or hot air, while permitting the person taking the bath to move
sufficiently to soap, wash, and brush himself, which would be impossible in a bath-
tub of this kind formed of wood.
To provide the heat, I employ either the steamer shown in detail in Fig. 7 or the
alcohol-lamp shown in Fig. 8; or the beat may be furnished by any desired and
suitable means. The neck of the steamer 29 projects through an opening 37 in the
back of the covering. The steamer is provided on top with an opening 31, through
which the steam escapes from it immediately under the bather, the escape of steam
through this top opening being regulated by a slide valve 32 within convenient
reach of the bather, a short open pipe 33 being provided on the side of the steamer,
so that the steam can be discharged at the side instead of up through the top
opening, to suit the convenience of the bather. A collar 34, having a draw-string,
is secured around the opening 37, this collar being drawn tightly around the neck
of the steamer to prevent the escape of steam from the tub.

page_text: When a dry heat is desired, the alcohol-lamp 35 (shown in Fig. 8) may be used,
either by introducing the entire lamp within the bath-tub or by leading its heat-
pipe 36 through an opening 37 into the bath-tub, this opening being in the back of
the bath-cover.
The bather sits with his feet in a shallow receptacle 38, containing warm water,
and when he desires to take a douche after the hot vapour bath a water proof-bottom
cloth 39, the edges of which are bent up and secured in that position is introduced,
as shown, and this receptacle can be readily removed and emptied when the bath
is over.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily
understood.
It will be seen that my folding portable Turkish-bath tub is simple, cheap, and
strong in construction, very effective in operation, giving a perfect Turkish or hot-
vapour bath. It can be set up and used in any room, while when not in use it can
be folded into a very small compass and placed out of the way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The combination of the folding supporting-frame, the lower bars thereof being
formed with the transverse opening 26, and the lower and upper bars having the
buttons 22 27, the side and end covers having their upper ends passing around the
upper bars of the supporting-frame and buttoned on the buttons thereof and having
secured to their lower ends the apertured strips 23, the top cover having the flap
and the neck-opening and buttoned on the buttons 22, the bottom cover having the
upwardly inclined apertured edges, and the straps 25, passing through the strips 23,
the upper ends of the bottom cover, and the openings 26 of the bottom bars of the
supporting frame, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st dor of Ten 1905