Improvements in Water or Air Pillows or Cushions, applicable to Hot Water Bottles, Ladies' Muffs, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Water or Air Pillows or Cushions, applicable to Hot
Water Bottles, Ladies' Muffs, and the like.
I, EDMUND WHITE of "Sunnyside," Oxford Road, Putney, Pharmaceutist to
St. Thomas's Hospital, London, S.E., do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in water or air pillows, or cushions
for the use of invalids or others and is designed with a view of making them
washable and sterilizable after use, also capable of being repaired in case of
perforation or puncture.
To carry out this invention I make the water or air tube or chamber of thin
india-rubber of a quality which can be boiled in water without incurring damage
thereto, and of any desired shape, and place in one corner or other suitable posi-
tion a screw cap as usual in pillows or cushions now employed. Over this water
or air extensible bag is placed an inextensible cover corresponding in shape and
made from a suitable textile material such as linen, canvas or the like.
If the water or air chamber gets punctured it can be readily mended and the
patch will be held in place by the inextensible cover, said cover is a jacket made
of any suitable material that can be sterilized by soaking in antiseptic solution,
or placing in boiling water without injuring it.
The above mentioned cushion can also be suitably adapted for ladies muffs
or the like by making the fine rubber extensible liquid or air bag of the same
shape or form as of an ordinary muff with suitable means for blowing up or
filling it with hot water or air, also adaptable when travelling to be used for a
pillow. The object of the present invention is to obviate what is now a serious
defect in rubber pillows lined with canvas as used in hospitals and other public
institutions, which, cannot be sterilized or successfully washed after use, and
when patched there is nothing to secure the patch being held in place, conse-
quently such water or air pillows or cushions become useless after they once
leak and are dangerous to use after being employed by patients suffering from
disease of an infectious character.
Hot water bottles may be made in a similar manner.
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Water or Air Pillows or Cushions, applicable to Hot
Water Bottles, Ladies' Muffs, and the like.
I, EDMUND WHITE of "Sunnyside," Oxford Road, Putney, Pharmaceutist to
St. Thomas's Hospital, London, S.E., do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in water or air pillows, or cushions for
the use of invalids or others and is designed with a view of making them wash-
able and sterilizable after use, and which are also capable of being repaired in
case of perforation or puncture.
*** 1.
....
That this invention may be well understood a sheet of drawings accompanies
this specification in which:-
Figure 1 is a flat view of the pillow and one side of its inextensible cover..
Figure 2 an outer view of same.
Figure 3 an end view of the muff warmer, its two outer covers being denoted
by dotted lines, and Figure 4 a side and end (cut off) view of the same." The
same letters of reference are employed to denote like parts in all the figures.
In carrying out this invention 1 make the water or air chamber A of thin
(pure) india-rubber of a quality which can be boiled in water. without incurring
damage thereto, and of any desired shape, and place in one corner as shown, or
in any other suitable position a screw cap a which is of the ordinary kind as
usually employed in water or air pillows or cushions. Over this -water or air
extensible bag A is placed, (by sewing round or pulling over,) an inextensible
cover B corresponding in shape and made from a suitable textile material such,
as linen, twill cloth, canvas or the like. Said inextensible cover may have its
edges sewn round or bound and an aperture left just wide enough to admit of
the extensible bag A being placed therein with its neck E protruding therefrom,
said aperture may be provided with lace holes or eyelets for lacing the parts
together 'as seen in Figure 2." Other suitable fastenings such as running
tapes or cords may also be employed if desired for bringing such parts together.
By the above means the water or air chamber A. can be got at and any punc-
ture readily mended by placing a patch of the same material of it which will be
held in place by pressing against the inextensible cover B. The cover B which
is in the form of a removable jacket and made of a suitable material before
referred to can also be sterilized by soaking in antiseptic solution, or by placing
it in boiling water without doing it any injury.
"
The above mentioned cushion in a modified form cylindrical and hollow as
seen in Figs. 3 and 4 and which can be suitably adapted for warming ladies
muffs or the like by making the fine (pure) rubber extensible liquid or air bag A
of the same shape or form as of an ordinary muff with the usual means a for
blowing up with air or filling it with hot water, this form can also be adapted
for, or be used when travelling or in an ordinary way for a head rest or circular
pillow. The cylindrical tube A is covered by an inextensible jacket B which
in turn is either covered by the fur D and lining d or placed within the muff,
the former preferred so as to resemble an ordinary ladies muff.
The principal object of this present invention is to obviate what is now a serious
defect in rubber pillows which are lined with canvas and are constantly used in
hospitals and other private and public institutions but which cannot in any case
be sterilized or successfully washed after use, and if punctured and patched such
patches cannot be held in place, consequently such water or air pillows or

page_text: cushions become useless after they once leak and are furthermore dangerous to
use after being employed by patients suffering from diseases of an infectious
character.
It will be readily understood that the pillow shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the
drawings can be easily made in the form of a hot water bottle by putting the
neck E in the centre and securing a handle or handles to the inextensible
jacket B. In am aware that rubber muff warmers have been made and used but
of a nature that will not allow of the hands to be placed therein.
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. A water or air pillow, cushion or bottle composed of a pure rubber extensible
case, bag or chamber A, a jacket or detachable cover B made of linen, twill
cloth canvas or the like textile material laced or otherwise secured thereon,
capable of being washed or sterilized after use, substantially as described.
2. A muff warmer or pillow of a cylindrical form composed of an extensible
pure rubber hollow body capable of being filled with water or air, and covered
by an inextensible textile jacket, with or without a lining, or an outer covering
of fur or other like material, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of Novamhar 1800
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Registered Patent Agent,
34, Belvoir Street, Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
Applicant's Agent.