AN IMPROVED BATH COMBINING IN ITSELF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE HOT AIR OR TURKISH BATH, WITH THE VAPOUR SLIPPER HOT AND COLD WATER SHOWER BATH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Timmins, General Caster, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and Thomas Simmons, Doctor of Medicine,
also of Birmingham, aforesaid, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BATH
COMBINING IN ITSELF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE HOT AIR OR TURKISH BATH,
WITH THE VAPOUR SLIPPER HOT AND COLD WATER SHOWER BATH."
Sealed the 8th July 1862, and dated the 15th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Timmins and
Thomas Simmons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 15th January 1862.
We, THOMAS TIMMINS; General Caster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and THOMAS SIMMONS, Doctor of Medicine, also of Birmingham,.
aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
BATH COMBINING IN ITSELF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE HOT AIR OR TURKISH BATH,
WITH THE VAPOUR, SLIPPER, HOT AND COLD WATER SHOWER BATH," to be as
follows (that is to say) :-
Our Invention of a combination bath consist in so constructing such baths
that it shall combine in itself all the advantages of the hot air or Turkish

page_text: bath, with the vapour, slipper, hot and cold water shower bath, and this we
effect generally by constructing the body of the bath of sufficient size and
capacity for general use, with a projection at the head, that when using this
bath as a hot air or vapour bath a pillow may be placed on the projection for
the head of the occupant to rest on; some little way from the bottom we
place a strong frame stretched with cane, wire, or other non-absorbent
material for the patient to reeline on; and at the sides we also place frames
stretched in the like manner, standing off a little distance from the sheet
metal sides of which the bath may be composed. At the foot an air-way is
constructed and a suitable lamp or other heating apparatus may be placed for
heating air which is sent into the interior of the bath through the air-way
before mentioned; the body of the bath is partially covered over from the foot
end upwards, and to this a counterpoise cover is attached with a close hinge
or other joint, so as to form a lid to entirely cover up the bath excepting at
the top end, where an opening is formed to receive the neck of the occupant,
as the body only is intended to be subjected to the effects of the hot air or
vapour, which may be raised to any desired degree of heat, and which freely
circulates below and around the occupant. This arrangement we believe will
be found highly beneficial as the hot air or vapour in no case is inhaled by
the user, and from the appliances used for supporting the body being non-
absorbents no pernicious disease can be absorbed and communicated to the
succeeding user of the bath; and this same description apply generally when
such bath is heated with steam or vapour, which may be medicated or other-
wise as desired; and by removing the frames before mentioned the bath is in
every way suitable for the use of hot or cold water, which may be supplied or
drawn off in the ordinary way. At the head of this bath we apply generally
four tubular uprights, and one or more at the bottom for the purpose of
supporting a rod for carrying a curtain or curtains around the bath for the
sake of privacy in connection with the tubular uprights before mentioned; at
the head of the bath we supply a suitable reservoir for hot and cold water, both
chambers communicating with valves to the perforated bottom below; that
such reservoir being supplied with hot and cold water the occupant may by
pulling either wire open the desired valve to permit a shower of hot or cold
water to descend as he or she may desire. In a general way we place this
bath ou stump feet with castors or wheels that it may be readily moved about
the whole exterior and interior, being protected by paint which may be orna-
mented on the outside with any suitable or appropriate design, which presents
an elegant and light appearance. Baths thus constructed may be used in

page_text: extreme cases as a bed, which may be very desirable in administering to an
invalid a hot air or vapour bath, the bath being discontinued at pleasure by.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas Simmons in. the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
TIMMINS, General Caster, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and
THOMAS SIMMONS, Doctor of. Medicine, also of Birmingham, aforesaid, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year.
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas Simmons, Her special license
that we, the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas Simmons, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Timmins
and Thomas Simmons, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,.
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED.
BATH COMBINING IN ITSELF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE HOT AIR OR TURKISH BATH,.
WITH THE VAPOUR; SLIPPER, HOT AND COLD WATER SHOWER BATH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we; the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas
Simmons, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal. Patent Office within six calendar months next, and.
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas Simmons,.
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the,
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
Our Invention of a combination bath consists in so constructing such. baths.

page_text: that it shall combine in itself all the advantages of the hot air or Turkish
bath, with the vapour, slipper, hot and cold water shower bath, and this we
effect by constructing the body of the bath of sufficient size and capacity for
general use, with a projection at the head, that when using this bath as a hot
air or vapour bath, a pillow may be placed on the projection for the head of
the occupant to rest on. Some little way from the bottom we place a strong
frame stretched with cane, wire, or other non-absorbent material for the
patient to recline on; and at the sides when required we also place frames
stretched in the like manner, standing off at a little distance from the sheet
metal sides of which the bath may be composed, for the purpose of protecting
the user from contact with the hot metal. At the foot an air-way is con-
structed and a suitable lamp or other heating apparatus for heating air which
is sent into the interior of the bath through the air-way before mentioned.
The body of the bath is partially covered over from the bottom end upwards,
and to this a counterpoise cover is attached with a close hinge or other joint,
so as to form a lid to entirely cover up the bath excepting at the top end,
where an opening is formed to receive the neck of the occupant, as the body
only is intended to be subjected to the effects of the hot air or vapour, which
may be raised to any desired degree of heat, and which freely circulates below
and around the occupant. This arrangement will be found highly beneficial as
the hot air or vapour in no case is inhaled by the user; and from the appliances
used for supporting the body being non-absorbant, no pernicious disease can be
absorbed and communicated to the succeeding user of the same bath. And
this description applies generally when such bath is heated with steam or
vapour, which may be medicated or otherwise as desired. And by removing
the frames before mentioned, and securing the air-way with a suitable plug,
the bath is in every way suitable for the use of hot or cold water, which may
be supplied or drawn off in the ordinary way. At the head of this bath we
apply generally four tubular uprights, and one or more at the bottom for the
purpose of supporting a rod for suspending a curtain or curtains around the
bath for the sake of privacy; and in connection with the tubular uprights
before mentioned, at the head of the bath, we supply a suitable reservoir
divided for hot and cold water, both chambers communicating with valves to
the perforated bottom below; that such reservoirs being supplied with hot and
cold water, the occupant may by pulling either wire open the desired valve to
permit a shower of hot or cold water to descend as he or she may desire. In
a general way we purpose placing this bath on stump feet with castors or
wheels, that it may be readily moved about, the whole exterior and interior

page_text: suitable or appropriate design, so as to present an elegant and light appearance.
Baths thus constructed may be used in extreme cases as a bed, which may
be very desirable in administering to an invalid a hot air or vapour bath, such
hot air or vapour being discontinued at pleasure by removing the means by
which the hot air or vapour is generated.
But as our Invention will be better understood by referring to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, we will proceed to describe the same, observing that the
same parts as they occur in the various views and sections are marked with
the same letters of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bath constructed to possess the various qualities
and requisitions for either hot or cold water, shower, slipper, vapour, or hot
air bath. A, A, is the main body which may be made of sheet iron, tinned,
galvanized, enamelled and ornamented, or otherwise protected from oxidation;
or this part may be made with advantage from sheet zinc, rigidity being given
to the same by the top and bottom moulding, marked B, B, and C, C, the
whole supported upon stump feet and castors, for the purpose of conveniently
wheeling it from room to room, or any desired place for use. D is a draw-off
tap, and E, F, ingress, or hot air or vapour ways, hereafter to be referred to.
The foot part of the bath extending backward from the centre or axis of the
lever G, is intended to be permanently covered, and from this part forward the
cover assumes the shape here exhibited in an elevated edge view marked H, H;
this cover is united to the axis on which the lever G works, the weight at
the lower end of which, marked I, forming a balance or counterpoise with the
cover. The angular portion of the cover, marked H', is hollowed out centrally
with its width to fit the neck of the user of the bath, as it is not intended that
the face or head should be at all confined or submerged. This cover rests on
an internal support rivetted or otherwise secured to the interior of the bath.
J and K are two of four supports, supporting a rectangular reservoir at the
top marked L which is divided in the middle for holding hot and cold water,
and which separate divisions are fitted with valves controlled by suitable levers
and pendant cords or pulls, one only is seen in this view, marked P; these
pulls being within the convenient reach of the user of the bath, the hot or
cold shower may be taken at pleasure; for the water descends through the
opened valve, whichever may be required, into the recess marked M, to flow
through the pipe N to the circular perforated part, marked O, to fall through

page_text: -on the user. The standard R is secured mid-way on the permanent portion
of the cover, and forms a stay for the moveable cover when up (as here shown)
to rest against, as also for supporting rods marked S, S, which are passed
around the open portion of the bath for the purpose of sustaining curtains to
ensure privacy to the user, as well as to provide a screen from draughts or
currents of cold air. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lower part of
Figure 1, taken through the dotted lines T, T, drawn for the purpose of
exhibiting the shelf at the head part of the bath to receive a pillow for the
head of the invalid bather to rest upon, and which part in this view is marked
U, U, U, as also the frame marked V, V, V, V, stretched-with-cane, wire, or
any (by preference non-absorbant) material, for the purpose of the occupant to
recline on when taking a hot air or vapour bath, but will not be required when
the bath is being used as a slipper bath, therefore the frame is fitted and
arranged so as to be readily applied or removed; likewise the foot rest which in
like manner may be a stretched frame, here exhibited in transverse section
marked W, W, supported by two tubular uprights soldered or otherwise
secured to the sides of the bath. X, X, is a part of a continuous tube that
goes around the bath and also forms a support for the frame V, V, to rest
on; this tube is united to the ingress way marked E, in Figure 1, hereafter
to be referred to. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the
lower part of the bath as exhibited at Figure 1, the cover marked H and H',
in a vertical position in that Figure is here represented down and the lever
and "counterpoise G and I elevated, the part occupied by the neck of the
occupant when in use being marked a, a. Figs. 4 and 5 are top and sectional
views of the divided reservoir for holding hot and cold water, as described at
Lin Figure 1, for affording a shower bath, the use and action of which are
so simple and well understood that we do not think it necessary to elaborate
this description by describing the valves, levers, &c. as they may be otherwise
arranged if required. And it will be evident that by the removal of the
stretched frame V, V, and the foot rest W, a hot, cold, or tepid slipper
bath may be luxuriantly taken according to the amount-of water supplied to
the bath; therefore we will now direct attention to the describing of the manner
in which our combination bath may be used, either as a hot air, or vapour
bath, medicated or otherwise as desired, and this we purpose effecting in the
following manuer:-Fig. 6 is a side view of our appliances for heating air and
generating vapour, Y is the lamp or gas holder and stand supported behind by
the standard Z; A¹ is the air-way for hot air to pass into the bath through the
ingress pipe F, which ingress and air-way may be divided into two, placed

page_text: parallel, and which number we have adopted although one only in this view
can be seen. These air-ways are under control, that by closing the flow-way
of the tube or tubes A¹, and opening the valve b, the hot air will be allowed to
escape at this part and all connection with the interior of the bath, will be cut
off. B' is a portable boiler that may be applied or removed at pleasure from
the stand below; this boiler is fitted with a screw plug at the top, so that it
may be readily supplied with water, or water in which any desired herbs have
been boiled, such as camomile flowers, poppy heads, lavender flowers, hops,
&c, the same being strained after boiling and the free decoction placed
in the boiler. The pipe C¹ is intended to be united to the ingress pipe of
the bath, and by lighting the gas or lamp within the stand, a free current or
stream of hot air will be sent into the bath, and in the course of a little time
steam will be generated in the boiler, which will escape through the pipe C',
and pass around through the tube X, and escape through small perforations
along the bottom side of the tubes, which commingling with the rarefied air,
a hot vapour will be generated, and which may be kept up and increased or
decreased by regulating the quantity of gas burnt, as well as the flow of the hot
air by the cut-off valve c, and escape-way b. Fig. 7 is a top view of the stand
or part marked Y in the last Figure, the boiler being removed, and in this
view we have represented the heating apparatus supplied with three Argand
burners from a gas pipe fitted with a plug for turning it offor on, or regulating
it as required, the connection from any fixed gas pipe to this being effected by
a piece of flexible tube of sufficient length, but we are not confined to the use
of gas for this purpose, as a suitable oil or spirit lamp may be used as may be
most convenient. In the latter case we should remove the chimney, and apply
a cover of the same shape just over the burners, and which cover we have
exhibited in top, bottom, and sectional view at Fig. 8, and on this cover apply
a suitable vessel containing spirits, which may be burnt without the aid of
cotton wick or other material. Fig 9 is a longitudinal section of Figure 6,
showing the interior of the boiler, and the escape-way for the steam, as also
the course of the hot air, and in this view we are enabled to represent a sec-
tional vertical form of the chimney, but which in plan would be of the same
shape as D¹, Figure 8; Fig. 10 is a front view of Figure 6, showing the
transverse form of the boiler, which descends as indicated by the dotted lines
into a sunken recess around its bottom, the door for convenience of lighting
the apparatus is represented open, and the chimney removed for the purpose
of exhibiting the flames from the three gas burners. And for illustration we
will now apply the chimney, close the door E', and apply the apparatus to

page_text: the foot of the bath, making the connection from the pipes of the apparatus
to the interior of the bath secure, when the bath will be fit for use, either as a
hot air or vapour bath, by pursueing the following directions:-A blanket or
piece of flannel should be placed over the frame V, and a pillow placed at the
head for the invalid, who should now entirely undress, and thoroughly sponge
the body with hot water, diluted (by preference) with carbonate of soda in the
proportion of about one ounce to one gallon of water, after which the body
should be well rubbed, and by this time the heating apparatus will be in full
force sending an active stream of rarefied air into the bath, which may be
now ready for receiving the patient, who will be placed full length upon the
frame, the counterpoised cover must now be put down, which we prefer being
lined with flannel, and made to fit well so that the hot air shall not unneces
sarily escape, and by the time the patient is thus placed the water or decoction
in the boiler from the heat of the lamp will be throwing off an active stream
of steam, which will be prevented from rapid condensation by the rarefied state
of the atmosphere within the bath, during which the patient will find benefit
from the face being sponged frequently with cold water during the time of
taking the bath, and in some cases free perspiration will be induced by sponging
the body with cold water, and again closing the cover. The bath may thus
safely be used for any moderate length of time, notwithstanding the agreable
sensation produced while indulging in this description of bath will by no means
incline the patient to hurry through its operation, but when free perspiration
has been obtained, and continued for a moderate length of time the patient
should before leaving the vapour bath take a warm and then a cold shower
bath, which will have a very refreshing and invigorating effect, and after en-
tirely leaving the bath, and before dressing, the free use of dry towels, and
well rubbing is strongly recommended.
Having now given a general description of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be generally constructed, and beneficially used, we wish
it understood that we do not purpose confining ourselves to the general details
herein described, and exhibited, as the same may be varied without effecting
the spirit and object of our Invention, as for instance, instead of the portable
bath herein described a permanent and fixed bath may be constructed, and
adapted for combining the advantages of our Invention, in that case the means
of generating the steam, and heating air may differ materially from the details
herein described and exhibited, still producing steam and heated air, which
are essential elements of our combined Invention, but what we claim and
wish protected by these our in part recited Letters Patent is the general

page_text: combination for the purposes herein stated of a slipper, hot and cold shower,
with a hot air and vapour, or Turkish bath, the same being used separately
or combined as required.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Timmins and Thomas Simmons
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.
o Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C.E.
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
THOMAS TIMMINS. (L.S.)
THOMAS SIMMONS. (L.S.)