AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT AIR OR VAPOUR BATH AND APParatus for HEATING THE SAME, SUCH APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Ellis, of 42, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in
the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of " AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT AIR OR VAPOUR BATH AND APParatus for HEATING
THE SAME, SUCH APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Ellis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd March 1877.
GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, of 42, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middle-
sex, Mechanical Engineer. "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT AIR OR VAPOUR BATH
AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE SAME, SUCH APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE TO
OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is the construction of a portable hot air or vapour
bath, whereby any person may have the benefit of a Turkish or vapour bath at his
own home, at little expense, and without the assistance of an attendant.
The bath is made of wood, zinc, or other suitable material, in the form of a
vertical case or cabinet, mounted upon wheels or casters, the upper part of the front
being hinged like a door. The top and sides are inclined towards the front, the
former being hinged and provided with an opening to fit round the neck of the
person using the bath, so as to allow his head to remain outside. The inside of the
bath is fitted with a moveable seat capable of being elevated or lowered, according
to the size of the occupant. This seat has an under lining or false bottom, preferably
'of metal, and the scat is cut away at the ends, front and back, to allow of the
passage of the heat, as herein-after described.
When the apparatus is used as a vapour bath I provide and attach to the false
bottom of the seat (and suspended therefrom) a pan to contain water, from which
vapour is generated by the heating apparatus placed below it. I also provide a
hollow metal hot water foot warmer, suitably padded and made adjustable in the
same manner as the seat.
The improved heating apparatus consists of a conical or other shaped block of
fire-brick formed with a hole through its centre, and of an iron stand or pedestal,
having a vertical pin, which passes through the hole in the said fire-brick heater.

page_text: To make use of the bath, one or more of the fire-brick heaters are placed in an
oven or fire until they are made sufficiently hot, when they are put upon the iron
stands and placed within the bath immediately underneath the seat. The person
then gets into the bath and closes the doors, when the heat from the apparatus will
rise up at the front, back, and sides of the seat so as to produce the desired effect,
which is assisted by the heat from the foot warmer.
The improved heating apparatus may also be employed for other heating purposes
where an ordinary stove or fire cannot conveniently be employed.
In place of my improved heating apparatus the bath may be heated by any
suitable oil or spirit lamp, or by gas or vapour conveyed through flexible or other
tubes. A ventilator is fitted to the bath in some convenient place for supplying
such lamp or gas with oxygen.
.
I
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said George Henry Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th August
1877.
GEORGE HENRY ELLIS, of 42, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in the County of Middle-
sex, Mechanical Engineer. AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HOT AIR OR VAPOUR BATH
AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING THE SAME, SUCH APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE TO
OTHER HEATING PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is the construction of a portable hot air or vapour
bath or cabinet, whereby any person may have the benefit of a Turkish or vapour
bath at his or her own home at little expense and without the assistance of an
attendant.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 2 a side elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of my improved portable hot air or
vapour bath or cabinet; Figure 4 is a vertical section of same on line A, B, of
Figure 1; Figure 5, horizontal section on line C, D, of Figure 2; Figure 6, front
elevation shewing the improved bath or cabinet open; Figures 7 and 8, views of
the apparatus which I sometimes employ for heating my improved bath or cabinet.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
The improved bath or cabinet is constructed of a vertical case or cabinet (of wood
or other suitable material), the top a and sides b, b, of which incline towards the
front (or may be at right angles with the front and back). The inclined top a is
hinged to one of the sides b, as shewn, and is formed with an opening c to fit round
the neck of the person using the bath, so as to allow his or her head to remain
outside; the upper part d of the front of the bath is also hinged to the side so as
'to allow the person to get into and out of the bath with facility. e is a seat fitted
inside the bath or cabinet and resting on pins or pegs fitting in the holes f in the
pieces g fixed to the sides of the bath or cabinet. This arrangement allows of the
seat e being elevated or lowered so as to suit the different heights of the persons
who may use the bath or cabinet. The seat has an under lining or false bottom h,
'preferably of metal, and the seat is cut away at the ends, front and back, as shewn
in Figure 5, to allow of the passage of the heat, as herein-after described.
I would here observe that when the apparatus is used as a vapour bath I provide and
attach to the false bottom h of the seate (and suspended therefrom) a pan to contain
water, in which vapour is generated by the lamp or heating apparatus placed below.
i is a hollow metal hot water foot warmer, suitably padded and made adjustable (as
shewn) in a similar manner to the seat e; j is an oil or spirit lamp of any suitable
construction. for heating the bath, or I may employ the apparatus shewn in
Figures 7 and 8, and herein-after described; L, l, are casters to allow of the bath or
cabinet being easily moved; m, handles at the sides of the bath or cabinet; m, ven-

page_text: tilator fitted in the side of the bath or cabinet for suppling the lamp with
oxygen.
To make use of the bath or cabinet the lamp jis lighted and placed on the floor k
of the bath or cabinet and directly under the seat e, as shewn. The person then
gets into the bath or cabinet and closes the door d and inclined top a, when the
heat from the lamp will rise up at the front, back, and sides of the seat e, so as to
produce the desired effect.
I would here observe that my improved bath or cabinet may also be heated by
gas conveyed through flexible or other tubes; or it may be heated by plain or
medicated vapour, either generated within the bath, as herein-before described, or
brought from any external apparatus by means of a tube, or introduced in any
other suitable manner. Instead of the hollow foot warmer i a simple foot rest may
be employed.
The beating apparatus shewn in Figures 7 and 8 consists of a conical (or it may
be of other suitable shape) block of fire-brick p formed with a hole o through its
centre, and of an iron stand or pedestal 7, having a vertical pin r, which passes
through the hole o in the said fire-brick heater.
It will be easily understood that to make use of this heating apparatus it is
merely necessary to place one or more of the fire-brick heaters p in an oven or fire
until they become sufficiently hot, when they are put upon the iron stands q and
placed within the bath or cabinet.
It will be observed that Figures 7 and 8 are drawn to a larger scale than the
other Figures of the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, what I claim is,―
Firstly. The improved portable hot air or vapour bath or cabinet, having an
adjustable seat and foot rest or warmer, and heated by means of a suitable lamp
or otherwise, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing.
Secondly. The employment in portable hot air or vapour baths or cabinets of an
adjustable seat and foot rest or warmer, as and for the purposes described.
Thirdly. The employment, in combination with the improved portable hot air or
vapour bath or cabinet, of the heating apparatus shewn in Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. The employment in combination with the improved portable hot air
or vapour bath or cabinet of a ventilator for the supply of oxygen, as and for the
purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Ellis, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.