Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
I, KARL DAMS, Inspector, of 1 Voss Strasse, Berlin, Germany, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention consists of a couch for use in connection with steam baths,
said couch being shaped to conform to the form of the body and render the position
of the same more convenient during the bath.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference is
had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters of reference denote similar
parts throughout and which shows the couch in perspective elevation, with a steam
apparatus thereunder.
In the present case the couch is formed by a frame having stretched thereon a
wire net a, but any other suitable material may be employed. The frame is provided
with a dip at about the middle part, or at c, said dip serving to accommodate the seat
of the patient or person bathing. The head rest d is adjustable by means of guides e
in which rods of the rest may be adjusted and the foot end g of the couch is also
adjustable in similar guide-ways k whilst both head aud foot ends are provided with
handles f and f¹ respectively for the convenient manipulation of the same. Hoops i i
are provided at different points of the couch, which may be hinged thereto and extend
transversely across the same, said hoops serving to support the steam or waterproof
covering h, which will thus be prevented from coming into direct contact with the
body of the patient. This covering extends to the head rest and is closed in the well
known manner round the neck of the person bathing. The couch is further provided
with legs which may be hinged thereto and provided with mechanism for fixing
them in the vertical position. When it is required to pack and transport the couch,
the legs and the hoops may be turned down and the couch will then occupy but very
little space.
Underneath the couch is arranged a steam pipe having jets o through
which the steam issues and this pipe may if desired open into a steam
box n having lateral openings for the purpose of distributing the steam.
The steam pipe may be in connection with a boiler arranged at any suitable
point in proximity to the apparatus, or at any other part of the building. The hoops i
may, if desired, be entirely detachable from the couch. From the above it will be
clear that the couch may be adjusted to suit the length of any person and that the
position of the body will be rendered very confortable thereon.
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 :-
A couch for use in connection with steam baths and for invalids, having its
supporting surface made to conform to the shape of the body, and having a dip to
receive the seat, so as to support the body in a partially sedentary slanting position,

page_text: said couch having adjustable head and foot ends in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.