Improvements in Methods of and Means for Disinfecting the Imple- ments of Barbers, Dentists and Physicians.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Means for Disinfecting the Imple-
ments of Barbers, Dentists and Physicians.
I, CLARENCE ANGLIM BRADLEY, of Beatrice, in the County of Gage and State
of Nebraska, United States of America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a convenient and ornamental cabinet for use by barbers,
dentists and physicians, for the purpose of thoroughly and reliably disinfecting
their implements.
The spread of diseases, many of which are formidable in their nature, and
eradicated, if at all, with great difficulty, are, as is well-known by physicians and
others, many times caused by razors, lather-brushes and cups in the barbers'
trade, and in the professions by surgical instruments exposed to the infectious
diseases and subsequently, without being properly cleansed and disinfected, used
upon others.
The objects of my invention are to obviate this danger to society by providing
a disinfecting cabinet conveniently constructed and arranged so as to receive
such implements or instruments as I have mentioned and thoroughly and efficiently
treat the same so as to disinfect them, destroying all microbes and rendering them
fit for subsequent use without danger of transmitting any infectious disease what-
ever from one subject to another.
Various other objects of less importance will hereinafter appear, and the novel
features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of my invention, the section being taken
on the dotted lines 1-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken on the line 7-8
in either Fig. 3 or Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the
line 5-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5
is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the razor or instrument compart-
ment illustrating in elevation one of the razor-holders. Fig. 6 is a similar
view illustrating the razor-holder in plan. Fig. 7 is a cross-section through a
series of said holders. Fig. 8 is a view illustrating in elevation the yielding
closures employed in front of each razor-holder. Figs. 9, 10 and 12 are details
of construction hereinafter referred to. Fig. 11 is a detail of the heating and
radiating drum. Figs. 13 and 14 are details in elevation and section respectively
of the antiseptic evaporator. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the cabinet. Fig. 16
is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.
In practice I preferably form the cabinet shell or casing, A', of cast-iron, or
it may be of other metal or wood. The cabinet may be given any desired design,
and may have removable front or back walls, A2, if desired, to give access to
the interior. The structure I will now describe, it will be understood, is located
in the outer cabinet or shell and may be spaced therefrom to make room for a
surrounding packing of asbestos or other heat non-conducting material.

page_text: The inner shell, A3, is preferably of sheet-iron and of rectangular shape,
and therefore, approximates that of the external shell or cabinet, and may be
provided with air-holes, G. Located within the same upon its bottom and at
its center, is a double heating-drum, consisting of an inner cylinder, B, and an
outer cylinder, E, the two having an intermediate circulating space. The drum
communicates with the exterior by an inclosed opening or passage, E', which
leads to a corresponding door, E³, formed in the front wall of the cabinet, A¹.
The bottom of the inner cylinder, B, may be provided with an opening, A, through
which any artificial heating means may be introduced, as for instance, a lamp, gas,
electricity, &c. In the upper end of the inner cylinder I locate escape vents or
holes, C, similar holes being formed in the external cylinder, E, near its bottom
and top, and indicated respectively as I and I. Cold-air entering-holes I, will
upon becoming heated, rise and be forced through the openings D subsequent to
a commingling with the heated air generated in the internal drum and escaping
therefrom through the vents C.
Surrounding the heating-drum thus described and located in the four corners
of the inner shell are the corner compartments, H, the same being formed by
means of vertical perforated partitions, H. By these compartments there are
formed intermediate the same radial compartments, H2, with which the heating
drum communicates. The several compartments being utilized as places of
deposit for numerous articles incident to the trade or profession are, of course,
provided with openings that are coincident with doors provided in the cabinet A¹.
Surmounting the heating-drum and those four intermediate compartments, H2,
is the X-shaped water-tank, F, the same having cocks or faucets, /, at its four
ends by which warm-water may be conveniently drawn at any of the four sides
of the cabinet. The tank may be supplied with a proper supply of water in any
well-known automatic manner, or by pouring the same therein through an inlet-
opening, m, having a perforated lid, n, through which the steam generated in
the tank may escape. In order that the level of the water in the tank may be
accurately maintained, I may locate adjacent thereto an ordinary sight-tube or
water-gage, f, and thermometer, if desired.
Supported above the water-tank F, and having its bottom combining with the
roof or top of the tank to form an intermediate heat radiating-space, L, is located
a hot-air sterilizing and disinfecting-compartment, N, which occupies the whole
horizontal area of the inner shell, A³, and which may be subdivided at one end by
a vertical partition, 2, to produce a compartment, M, both compartments having
removable panels or walls whereby convenient access may be obtained. The
hot-air compartment, N, has formed at its top a transversely disposed dome, N¹,
which extends to the top of the inner shell and may be provided at opposite ends
with air-vents, e. A socket, g, may be formed in the bottom of the compart-
ment, N, and I may seat therein a. thermometer, o, (see dotted lines Fig. 3),
which may project through the tops of both cases so as to be exposed to view,
whereby the degrees of heat in the compartments N and M can always be
observed.
The formation of this dome produces at opposite sides thereof cool-air com-
partments, 0, 0, and the same are accessible through outwardly opening doors
a, a Corresponding doors, a, are located in the walls of the dome, N₁, and
the doors of each set or side may be loosely connected by means of connecting-
rods, b, located at intervals and loosely connected or coupled at their ends to
staples, s, located in the adjacent sides of the doors a and a¹; or independent levers
may be employed for this purpose. By the arrangement suggested, however,
it will be seen that by opening either of the doors a¹, the companion door, a,
will be likewise opened.
In each of the doors, a, may be formed a plurality of small openings, ¹, in
rear of each of which unere may be hinged by spring-hinges, , downwardly open-
ing flaps, c. The fronts of these openings may be automatically closed by divided
spring-actuated felt covered clasps, d.
>

page_text: Within the dome, N¹, are located in the present instance, a series of trans-
versely disposed razor-holders, f, the walls, fi, of which are convexed and other-
wise formed to approximate the shape of a razor-blade, but yet not to contact with
the edge thereof. Of course, the cabinet, I have described is primarily intended
for barbers' use, and hence I have employed razor-holders, it being understood
that such interior arrangement is subject to such changes as may be found
necessary and will therefore be dictated by the business or profession in connec-
tion with which it is to be used.
Located in the hot-air compartment, N, immediately under the dome, N¹,
is an antiseptic-evaporator, B', best illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. A simple form
of antiseptic-evaporator, and one herein employed, consists of a metal cylinder, B²,
provided near its upper open end with an annular shoulder, c. Upon this shoulder
and also in the bottom of the receptacle cylinder I preferably locate absorbent
pads, a, preferably of asbestos, the same being thoroughly saturated with any
powerful antiseptic liquid. A removable screw-cap, d, is located on the upper
end of the receptacle, and the same is perforated, as at c¹, to emit the fumes of
the antiseptic.
It will be observed that the heated air rises and passes around the sides of
the water-tank, raising the temperature of the body of water from 180 to 212
degrees F. It then enters the space L, which communicates with compart-
ments H, thus heating by radiation the compartments M and N and assisting in
the disinfecting process of such articles as razors and instruments that may occupy
the razor-holders f, or other forms of racks or supports located in the dome N'.
At the same time the evaporator B will disseminate throughout the chambers M
and N the fumes of some powerful germicide, such for instance, as formaldehyde
40 per cent, solution and alcohol, by evaporation or by the generation of form-
aldehyde-gas.
In the present instance after the doors a, a, are opened, the razors are inserted
in an open condition, with the toes of the blades in advance, into the holders, f,
the gates, c, yielding thereto, after which the doors, a¹, a', are closed, the clasps, d,
closing about the shanks of the razors, thus preventing the escape of the dis-
infected hot-air from the dome N¹.
The compartments, H, H, may be utilized for various useful purposes in line
with this invention, as for instance, in the present case, one compartment may
be utilized to contain a bowl or receiver containing an antiseptic liquid to be used
as a razor dip, another to receive a bowl to contain hot borated soap and water,
a third a tray containing an antiseptic fluid to be used as a dip for hair-brushes
and combs, and another bowl containing borated water for cleansing and dis-
infecting the lather-brushes, and so on, each compartment being utilized as may
be desired.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have attained all the various
objects of my invention, and produced a most useful and convenient apparatus
for use by barbers, surgeons, and dentists, in which to thoroughly cleans their
tools and instruments and render them absolutely free from all disease germs.
To get the best results, I prefer wiping the razor or instrument after use
with a cotton cloth which has been previously sterilized by boiling, dried and
treated with a five per cent solution of soda borate, then plunging the same
into soapy water heated to the sterilizing point of 180 degrees F., or even higher
and containing a certain per cent of soda borate, then dipping it into a solution
containing an antiseptic, as for instance, to a fluid ounce each a certain per cent
of eucalyptus, menthol, boric-acid, fluid extract wild-indigo, formaldehyde, forty
per cent alcohol and water, and thence into the hot chamber where it is sub-
jected to the foregoing further antiseptic treatment, to wit, hot-air of a tempera-
ture of about 150 to 180 degrees F., or higher, and to the evaporation of for-
maldehyde, forty per cent solution, and alcohol, by slow evaporation, or by genera-
tion or evaporation of formaldehyde-gas, as hereinbefore described.
A small compartment may surmount the dome N, in which clippers, brushes,

page_text: razors, &c., may be placed to dry. A small amount of heat may be admitted
to this compartment, if used, through perforations in the top of dome N.
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. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a water-tank
therein, a superimposed hot-air disinfecting-chamber, a chamber located there-
above and communicating therewith, means for heating the tank, chamber and
receptacle, and doors formed in the receptacle.
2. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a hot-air dis-
infecting-chamber located in the upper end thereof, implement-holders located
therein, and means for heating said chamber.
3. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a hot-air dis-
infecting chamber located therein, means for heating the same, a cold-air com-
partment, and a door between the same and the receptacle.
4. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
chamber located therein and provided with a door, a compartment located adjacent
to the chamber and adapted to communicate therewith and provided with a door,
and means for actuating the door of the chamber by opening and closing the
door of the compartment.
5. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
chamber provided with a door, a compartment located adjacent thereto and
adapted to communicate therewith, and provided with a door, and rods loosely
connecting the adjacent sides of the said door, whereby they may be simul-
taneously operated.
6. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
chamber located therein, a door for the same having a series of openings, devices
for automatically closing each opening, and implement holders located in the
chamber in line with the openings in the door.
7. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
chamber located therein and having a series of openings, and yielding closures
for said openings.
8. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a disinfecting-chamber
provided with a series of openings in one of its walls, of moveable closures
for said openings.
9. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a disinfecting-chamber
having a series of openings in one of its walls, of a series of yielding and flexible
closures for said openings.
10. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a disinfecting-chamber
provided with a series of openings in one of its walls, of spring actuated gates
located in rear of said openings from which side they are adapted to close the
same, and a series of yielding closures in front of said openings.
11. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a disinfecting-chamber
having a door provided with openings, of a compartment provided with a door
and adapted to communicate with the receptacle, means for simultaneously
operating both doors, and divided closures for the openings of the door of the
receptacle.
12. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a disinfecting-chamber
having a series of openings in one of its walls, of the razor-holders, f, aligning
with the openings, and divided spring actuated clasps located over the openings
and adapted to grasp the shanks of the razors.
13. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a water-tank
located therein and combining with the wall of the cabinet or case to form
vertical side heat-passages, means for heating the tank, a superimposed hot-air
chamber having a transverse dome formed in its top, implement-supports located
therein, and doors located therein and leading to said dome.

page_text: 14. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a hot-water
tank located therein means for heating the same, a hot-air disinfecting receptacle
located thereabove and combining therewith to form a hot-air space, means for
giving access to the said receptacle, and hot-air passages leading from the heating
means to said hot-air space.
15. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
chamber located therein and provided in its top with a transverse dome of reduced
width having entrances at its longitudinal sides, and opposite parallel compart-
ments adapted to communicate therewith and produced by the reduced dome, and
provided with doors.
16. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of a disinfecting-
compartment, means for giving access to and heating the same, of a thermometer
located therein and exposed to view.
17. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, of an X-shaped
water-tank located therein, means for heating the tank, and hot-air passages pro-
duced between the same and the case, a superimposed disinfecting-chambr spaced
from the tank and forming a hot-air space communicating with the said hot-air
passages, and cold-air chambers located at opposite sides of the disinfecting-
chamber and normally out of communication with the same.
18. In a disinfecting-apparatus, the combination with a case, the heating-drum
consisting of the inner drum, B, having openings, C, in its top, and a hooded
entrance E¹, and the outer drum, E, having the lower openings I, and upper
openings D, and a superimposed hot-air disinfecting-chamber.
19. The combination with the rectangular case, A³, the heating-drum, and
perforated partitions, H', arranged as shown and producing the compart-
ments, H2, H2, having doors, of the superimposed water-tank, F, hot-air disinfect-
ing-chambers, N, M, the intermediate wall N2, the dome, N', and opposite
chambers, 0, 0.
20. The hereindescribed method of cleansing razors, surgical and other imple-
ments, which consists in, first, drying or wiping the razor, second, in plunging
the same into a hot solution of soapy-water, third, dipping it in to an antiseptic
bath, and fourth, submitting it to the fumes of an evaporating antiseptic.
21. The hereindescribed method of cleansing and purifying razors, surgical,
and other implements, which consists, first, in wiping and treating the razor or
implement to an antiseptic liquid bath, and second, to the action of fumes of an
evaporating antiseptic.
Dated this 14th day of April 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.