A New or Improved Bath Tub.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Bath Tub.
I, MARGARET OSCAR RUFFNER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at. 3501 South Grand Avenue in the City of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri, a Trained Nurse, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in aud by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved invalid's bath tub; and it consists in the
novel construction hereinafter described and claimed.
The object of my invention is to provide a bath tub that may be used
in giving an invalid or patient a bath without necessitating his removal from
the bed.
A further object of my invention is to provide an inflatable bath tub, which,
while deflated, may be located or laid out flat on the bel occupied by the patient
and after said patient has been located in or upon the deflated tub, the same
may be inflated so as to surround or enclose said patient, thus allowing the
invalid or patient to be given a bath without being raised or removed from
the bed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved bath tub;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the indicated
line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately on the indicated line 3-3
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view analogous to Fig. 3, but showing the bath tub
deflated and lying flat upon the bed.
Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings 1, indicates the body of
the tub, the same being of the usual form and constructed of rubber or analogous
material. Formed integral with and extending entirely around the top edges of
the walls of said body 1 is a tubular body 2 that is constructed of the same material
as is said body 1, and located upon said tubular body 2 at any desired point is a
valve 3 normally closed by a cap 4, said valve being of the form commonly used
on inflatable devices.
Located at any suitable point at the foot of the body 1 of the tub is an
exteriorly screw-threaded discharge nipple 5, the same being normally closed by a
cap 5".
Formed integral with the bottom of the body 1 and extending upwardly a
portion of the way on the wall at the head end of the body 1 of the tub is a
section of material 6, which, when the tub is inflated or in use, acts as a pillow or
head-rest for the patient. By the location of this section of material 6 in the tub,
the space 7 is formed at the head end of said tub. Formed integral with the
head wall of the body of the tub and connecting this space 7 with the tubular
body 2 is
tubular body 8.
Formed integral with the exterior faces of the sides and foot of the body of the
tub at suitable distances apart are ubular bodies 9 that communicate with the
tubular body 2, and extend from thence downwardly to the bottom of the body of
the tub,
In the practical use of my improved bath tub, the samne is while in a deflated

page_text: condition located flat upon the bed occupied by the patient, after which said
patient is moved onto said deflated tub in such a position as that the tubular body 2
surrounds or encloses said patient. The cap 4 is now removed from the valve 3
and the nozzle of an air-pump of any suitable construction is applied to said valve
and as said air-pump is manipulated in the nsual manner the tubular body 2, the
air-space 7 and tubular bodies 9 are all inflated, which inflation will cause the
tubular bodies 9 to assume a perpendicular position which will cause the walls of
the tub to assume practically the same position. By a further action of the air-
pump the air within the tubular hodies and space 7 may be compressed which will
very rigidly retain the tub in its proper form, after which the nozzle of the pump
is removed from the valve 3 and the cap 4 applied to said valve. The cap 5* is
now located upon the nipple 5, after which the water to be used in the bath may
be discharged into the tub in any suitable manner, said tub now being occupied
by the patient. After the patient has been bathed in the proper manner, the
cap 5 is removed from the nipple 5 and one end of a flexible connection is
applied to the nipple 5 and the water within said tub can be in this manner
drawn off, after which the cap 4 is removed from the air-valve 3 and the tub
deflated; said deflated tub is now removed from beneath the patient and the
operation is complete.
A bath tub of my improved construction is especially applicable for use in
hospitals, infirmaries, etc. or where the patient is obliged to always remain in a
recumbent position. Said bath tub is simple, durable, readily inflated or deflated,
and may be very easily and expeditiously manipulated while a patient is located
therein or removed therefrom.
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 bath tub constructed of rubber or analogous material having a tubular
body extending around its upper edge, and vertically arranged tubular bodies on
its side-walls, the said tubular bodies capable of being inflated.
2. A bath tub for invalids, etc., comprising a body constructed of rubber or
analogous material, a tubular inflatable body formed integral with and extending
around the upper edge of the first-mentioned body, a series of tubular bodies
formed integral with the side-walls of the first-mentioned body and communicating
with the before-mentioned tubular body, an auxiliary section located at the head
end of the body of the tub, the space beneath which communicates with the first-
mentioned tubular body, an air-valve through which the tubular bodies are inflated,
and a discharge-valve located in the body of the tub.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.