A Portable Hot-air, Steam, and Electrical Bath, with Arrangement for Inhaling and otherwise employing Vapours, Plain or Medicated.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Hot-air, Steam, and Electrical Bath, with Arrangement
for Inhaling and otherwise employing Vapours, Plain or
Medicated.
I, CARL ADOLPH SAHLSTRÖM, of Nos. 36 & 37, St. Ermin's Mansions, Caxton
Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1. I construct a suitable case of wood, metal or other material either separately
or in combination, which case, when closed shall contain the whole of the apparatus.
The lid of this case being raised, is kept in proper position by a folding stay or stays,
and forms the back of the bath. Attached to this back is a folding seat the legs of
which are capable of being stepped in suitable sockets provided in the bottom of
the case, which now becomes the bottom of the bath.
2. To close in the front and sides of the bath a hood is provided, similar to an
ordinary carriage hood, supported upon one or more iron ribs or tilts pivotted at
the back of the case on each side and covered with any suitable material.
3. The lid of the case or back of the bath is of such dimensions that an ordinary
sized man may sit on the folding seat in comfort while his head just reaches
the top of the back, and at that point a further folding head rest is provided.
4. The top of the bath is closed in with a loose neck piece of suitable material
made to fit the neck comfortably, and so constructed that it may be fastened or
unfastened at will both from within and from without the apparatus. This neck
piece is loose enough to allow free movement to the head and shoulders in all
directions, and is provided with elastic arm holes through which the hands may be
protected, if desired.
5. In front of the neckpiece and upon one of the metal ribs or tilts supporting
the hood may be arranged a reading desk furnished with candle holder, water glass
stand &c., and the upper portion of each of the sides of the back or lid may be
provided with watch hook, bell, thermometer, looking glass and so forth.
6. When gas is obtainable, the heating apparatus is an ordinary Bunsen or other
burner, placed in a chamber communicating with the outer air so as to obtain
sufficient of the latter to maintain combustion. This burner is pivotted, so that the
heat may be utilized, at the will of the occupant of the bath, either to produce hot
air only, or steam. The degree of heat is, also, governed by a lever placed on the
bottom of the bath and operated by the bather's foot; but in such a manner that he
can never turn the gas completely off, and so necessitate relighting. The gas can
only be turned completely off from the outside.
7. When hot air is desired the products of combustion are received into a serpen-
tine chamber which, after the required number of bends, discharges the burnt
gas and air into the outside air. This serpentine chamber is enclosed in a
box from the sides of which diaphragms project into its curves, and the pure air,
drawn into the box from below, is forced to follow the serpentine bends, thus
passing over a very large amount of heating surface, and being discharged into the
bath at any desired temperature.
8. When steam is required, the burner is shifted below a small boiler, partially
filled with water, and provided below with an opening or openings which assist the
rapid heating of the water and afford a means whereby the products of combustion
are discharged into the outer air. The steam escapes into the interior of the bath
by means of holes provided for the purpose at or near the upper portion of the
boiler. A third position may be given to the burner in which it merely discharges

page_text: its waste heat and products of combustion into the air without heating either air
or water inside the bath; and, when packed, the burner lies flat on the bottom
of the case.
9. When gas is not available, the necessary heat may be derived from petroleum
or other burning oil. In this case the container or oil reservoir is preferably placed
outside the bath; and the burner fed by suction only through the wick. By this
means the danger of ignition or explosion of the oil is reduced to a minimum, and
any leakage &c. of the oil does not affect the interior of the bath. The pivotting
arrangement for obtaining steam or hot air at will is carried out as before.
10. For the purposes of inhalation a tube is fixed to the boiler and may penetrate
the neckpiece at any suitable point or it may be attached to the apparatus in any
other convenient way. The tube is provided with a tap which may be opened or
closed at the will of the bather. It is also provided with a plain detachable mouth-
piece by which steam or moist air alone may be inhaled; and a further detachable
mouthpiece fitted with inhaling box, by means of which medicines &c. may be used.
The tube may also be used under the bath covering when medicated baths are
required.
11. When electrical baths are required any kind of battery may be employed and
the wires thereof connected to the studs provided for the purpose on each side of
the bath. Connected with these studs are metal plates, wire brushes and other
electrical apparatus which by means of suitable switches the bather can employ at
will over any part or the whole of his body, or merely to electrify the vapour
-contained in the bath.
12. When the bath is closed means are provided whereby proper ventilation of
the interior is secured and the contents are thus preserved from damage by damp.
Dated this Fifth day of March 1890.
C. A. SAHLSTROM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Hot-air, Steam, and Electrical Bath, with Arrangement
for Inhaling and otherwise employing Vapours, Plain or
Medicated.
I, CARL ADOLPH SAHLSTRÖM, of Nos. 36 and 37 St. Ermin's Mansions,
Caxton Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, but now of 10 Colville
Gardens, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 and by the following statement :-
According to my invention I construct a suitable case of wood, metal or other
material either separately or in combination, which case when closed shall be
capable of containing the whole of the apparatus and for this purpose the lid of
this case when raised is kept in proper position by a folding stay or stays, and forms
the back of the bath. Attached to this back is a folding seat the legs of which
are capable of being stepped in suitable sockets provided in the bottom of the case,
which now becomes the bottom of the bath, and my invention will be further best
understood by describing same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side and Figure 2 is a front elevation (with the covering removed
for the sake of clearly showing the apparatus) of a portable hot air, steam, or
electrical bath constructed according to my invention.
A is the bottom of the case, B. the top or back thereof and the one being hinged
to the other at B₁ so that the back or top B can be raised into the position shown
in the drawing when it is required to use the bath, or when not wanted for use the
back B is folded on to the bottom A leaving sufficient space between the parts A
and B for the other fittings of the bath as hereafter described and shown. CC are
the folding stays for keeping the back-B in open position as shown which back may

page_text: be made of any suitable material or materials, for example, of laths of wood
arranged alternately with metal laths or plate as shown in section at Figure 3,
only showing a small portion of the back, or in any other convenient manner.
D is the folding seat hinged to the back B at D₁ and also to the legs E E as
shown at E', the said legs E being stepped in the sockets E² on the bottom
piece, so that when the chair is not required for use the seat D is lifted and the
legs E are turned under the chair seat D, the legs and seat being then folded
against the back B. The dotted lines on leg E, Figure 1, indicate fabric
stretched between the legs of the chair for preventing the heat coming in direct
contact with the legs of the person occupying the bath.
To close in the front and sides of the bath a hood is provided, similar to an
ordinary carriage hood, supported upon one or more iron ribs or tilts pivotted
at the back of the case on each side thereof, and covered with any suitable
material.
The lid of the case, or back of the bath, is of such dimensions that an ordinary
sized person may sit on the folding seat D in comfort, while his head just reaches
the top of the back B and at that point a further folding head rest B2 is
provided.
The top of the bath is closed in with a neck piece of suitable material made
to fit the neck comfortably, and so constructed that it may be fastened or
unfastened at will both from within and from without the apparatus. This neck
piece is loose enough to allow free movement to the head and shoulders in all
directions, and is provided with elastic armholes through which the hands may be
projected if desired.
In front of the neck piece and upon one of the metal ribs or tilts supporting the
hood may be arranged a reading desk furnished with a candle holder, water glass,
stand &c. and the upper portion of each of the sides of the back or lid may be
provided with watch hook, bell, thermometer, looking glass and so forth.
F F are the ribs hinged to the bottom A, or to a heel piece connected thereto,
for carrying the folding hood which can be raised or lowered as required, raised
when the bath is required for use as shown by the drawing, or lowered down flat
between the back B and the base A when packed. The hood divides at F*,
whereby the head and foot portions may be adjusted separately. A reading desk
and candle holder are indicated on the top of the upper rib E¹ and other fittings
may be also conveniently there applied as may be found desirable, or as
circumstances may demand.
When gas
is obtainable the heating apparatus is an ordinary Bunsen, or other
burner indicated by the letter I, placed in a chamber communicating with the
outer air, so as to obtain sufficient of the latter to maintain combustion. This
burner is pivotted so that the direction of the heat may be utilized at the will of
the occupant of the bath, either to produce hot air only, or steam. The position
of the burner is governed by a lever J placed on the bottom of the bath and
operated by the bather's foot. O is the gas supply cock within reach of the bather
but arranged in such a manner that he can never turn the gas completely off, and
so necessitate relighting. The gas can only be turned completely off from the
outside.
G is the hot air chamber, and H is the water vessel or boiler, arranged and firmly
secured on the back B, below the seat D, having a space left between the two.
This burner I is shown pivotted at 1' so that it may be inclined in the direction
required as indicated by the dotted lines, by the arm J, or rock shaft, worked by
the foot of the person occupying the seat D.
When hot air is desired, the products of combustion are received into a serpentine
chamber or pipe K which, after the required number of bends, discharges the burnt
air and gas into the outside air. This serpentine chamber K is enclosed in the
box G, or hot air chamber, and the pure air drawn into the box G from outside
below, follows the serpentine bends thus passing over a very large amount of

page_text: heating surface and discharged into the bath at any desired temperature, through
apertures in the upper interior part of the box G, thus some fresh heated air is
admitted into the bath, as well as heating the air already there.
When steam is required, the burner is shifted below the small boiler H, partially
filled with water, and provided below with a concave or curved bottom to assist the
rapid heating of the water and afford a means whereby the products of combustion
are directed towards the opening between the boxes G and H, and thence
discharged into the outer air. The steam escapes into the interior of the bath.
by means of holes provided for the purpose at or near the upper portion of the
boiler H. A third position may be given to the burner in which it merely
discharges its waste heat and the products of combustion against a plate K¹ into
the air without heating either air or water inside the bath; when packed, the
burner lies flat on the bottom of the case. K is the serpentine pipe in the hot air
chamber G leading from the burner I (where it is shown trumpet mouth shaped) to
the outer air, and through the back B as shown at Figure 1.
When gas is not available, the necessary heat may be derived from petroleum, or
other burning oil. In this case the container or oil reservoir is preferably placed
outside the bath; and the burner fed, for example, by suction through the wick.
By this means the danger of ignition or explosion of the oil is reduced to a minimum
and any leakage &c. of the oil does not affect the interior of the bath. The
pivotting arrangement of the burner for obtaining steam or hot air at will is carried
out as before.
For the purposes of inhalation, a tube, not shown, is fixed to the boiler and may
penetrate the neck piece at any suitable point or it may be attached to the
apparatus in any other convenient way. This tube is provided with a tap which
may be opened or closed at the will of the bather. It is also provided with a
detachable mouthpiece by which steam or moist air alone may be inhaled, and
a further detachable mouthpiece, fitted with inhaling box, by means of which
medicines &c. may be used. The tubes may also be used inside the back covering,
when medicated baths are required.
When electrical baths are required, any kind of battery may be employed and the
wires thereof connected to studs provided for the purpose on each side of the bath.
Connected with these studs are metal plates, wire brushes and other electrical
apparatus which by means of suitable switches the bather can employ at will, over
any part, or the whole of his body, or merely to electrify the vapour contained in
the bath.
When the bath is closed, means are provided, by holes in the box for example,
whereby proper ventilation of the interior is secured and the contents are thus pre-
served from damage by damp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In portable hot air, steam and electric baths the hinged ribs F F for
carrying a cover and neck piece constructed arranged and acting substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Second. In one and the same portable bath the hot air chamber G in combination
with the boiler H heated and regulated by apparatus as described constructed
arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. In portable hot air, steam and electrical baths the base A with back B,
folding stays C, and folding seat D hinged ribs F F¹ for cover and neck piece, in
combination with the hot air chamber G, fitted with serpentine pipe K, boiler H,
and burner I the latter operated as described, all substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The general construction and arrangement of the various parts of

page_text: portable hot air, steam, and electrical baths all when combined as described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings together with any mere
modification or modifications thereof.
C. A. SAHLSTRÖM.