IMPROVEMENTS IN SPONGE BATHS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Laitwood, of Timperley, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPONGE
BATHS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Laitwood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1880.
JOHN LAITWOOD, of Timperley, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPONGE BATHS."
My Invention has for its object the formation and arrangement of sponge baths,
so as to afford increased comfort and facility in bathing operations.
I divide the interior of an ordinary sponge bath by means of water-tight
divisions into spaces to keep the water in a separate and distinct division, and to
provide a dry standing space, and also sponge and brush boxes.
Towards the centre of and concentric with the outer circle of an ordinary sponge
bath I fix a circular or nearly circular wall or division rising to about the same
height as the height of the bath itself, and extending to about five sixths (inore or
less) of the whole circle. The two ends of this inner wall are connected with and
form part of two boxes, which extend from the inner wall or division radially
outwards to and terminate at the outer wall of the bath. These two boxes support
the two ends of the inner wall, and themselves form suitable receptacles for
sponges, brushes, and other useful bath appliances.
I thus secure a water space of an annular or partially annular form extending
round a considerable portion of the circle, and I also secure a central dry well for
the bather to stand in, and also a dry stepping space between the two boxes
leading to the central dry well.
By this arrangement of bath the operation of sponging can be performed without
the necessity of the bather standing in the water, while at the same time the
water, sponges, and brushes are conveniently near to the bather, and all self-
contained in the bath.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Laitwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
November 1880.
JOHN LAITWOOD, (of Timperley, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SPONGE BATHS."
My Invention has for its object the formation and arrangement of sponge baths,
so as to afford increased comfort and facility in bathing operations.
I divide the interior of an ordinary sponge bath by means of water-tight
divisions into spaces in such a manner that a central dry standing space with
surrounding water-space and sponge and brush box or boxes is provided for the
operation of sponging or otherwise, the brush box being used as a step for entering
the bath; or the central space may be used as a foot bath and the box as a seat
with or without water in the surrounding space; or warm water may be placed in
the central compartment for the purpose of keeping the feet warm, and cold water
placed in the outer compartment for the purpose of cold sponging the upper portion
of the body.
Towards the centre of and concentric with the outer circle of an ordinary sponge
bath I fix a circular or nearly circular wall or division rising to about the same
height as that of the bath itself, and extending to about five sixths (inore or less)
of the whole circle. The two ends of this inner wall terminate at the box (or
boxes), which box extends from such inner wall to the outer wall. This box forms
a suitable receptacle for sponges, brushes, soap, and other usual bath appliances;
or the box may have divisions therein, so as to form two boxes (or more), as
mentioned in my Provisional Specification; or the boxes may be separated as
therein mentioned with a dry stepping space between them.
I thus secure a water space of an annular or partially annular form extending
round the central space or dry well; a convenient foot bath, a dry stepping space,
which may also be used as a seat, suitable boxes for sponges, brushes, and soap,
and a convenient arrangement for using water at two different temperatures at the
saine time, all which are self-contained in the bath.
In the accompanying perspective Drawing these arrangements are clearly
shewn.
A is a cork pad fitted at the bottom, and in the centre of the inner division or
foot bath B; Ĉ is the sponge box, which also serves as a dry step or a seat; D is
the outer aunular portion of the bath for water of any required temperature; and
E, E, is a pipe leading from the inner foot bath B to the spout for conveniently
emptying the foot bath B.
Having now described and ascertained the nature and objects of my said
Invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement and construction of sponge baths and mode of dividing and
utilising the space in such or ordinary spongo baths, as and for the purposes
substantially as berein before set forth and described and shewn on the Drawing,
or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Laitwood, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN LAITWOOD. (L.S.)