Douche appliance

May 7, 1940. l. b. tucker 2,199,844

DOUCHE APPLIANCE

Filed Sept. 21, 1938

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ATTORNEYS

Patented May 7, 1940

2,199,844

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,199,844 DOUCHE APPLIANCE Lewis Bott Tucker, Rye, N. Y.

Application September 21,1938, Serial No. 230,909

Claims. (Cl.128—251)

My invention relates to syringes generally but more, specifically to the type designed for use in connection, with the douche known as the vaginal douche.

' I. have devised a novel douche apparatus for use in feminine hygiene, of such simple construction as to render its cost of manufacture extremely low and thus make it available to a widespread public at a low cost. Furthermore, my in) 0' vention, in spite of the simplicity of its construction,contains a chamber in which a germicidal or medicinal powder in cylindrical cake or lozenge form may be used in such a manner that an effective germicidal or disinfecting solution of pre¹³ ’ determined strength is formed simply by the flow of the water through and past this cake of germicidal or medicinal powder. The cylinder or lozenge of powder will have a hole through the center through which the water will pass and 20 one or more channels longitudinally along the cylinder to effect more rapid liqueflcation and dissolution of the lozenge.

I have further effected a combination of a control cap to be used as an intermediate between the 25 source of water under pressure , (as for example a faucet) and the tube which leads to thedoucheapparatus of my invention. By means of this cap structure, to be set out more specifically hereinafter, there is an automatic control vested in 30 the cap so that should the pressure of the water become higher than desired there will be an instantaneous disengagement of the tube from the water supply.

This cap is commonly formed of rubber or a 3®·'· similar resilient material and fits by friction engagement over the mouth of the faucet. The friction, fit is such that it adheres firmly to the mouth of the faucet so long as the pressure of water thereupon is below a certain, point. Up 40'to the time, that the water emerging from the faucet reaches that certain point, the cap continues to freely allow the passage of water through it, but should the water pressure rise above this point, then the very pressure of the 45 water . .itself will automatically disengage the friction fit and separate the rubber cap from the mouth of the faucet, thus disengaging the water supply from the tube of the douche appliance. This action is brought about by the elasticity of 50 the rubber cap and the closeness of the friction engagement. The opposite end of the cap is suitably engaged to a rubber tube, which in turn is attached to the douche appliance.

In order to produce the desired medicinal, ger55. micidal or disinfecting solution, I provide at the base of the member which constitutes the douche appliance a chamber adapted to contain a cake of cylindrical or lozenge shape formed of germicidal or antiseptic powders of various formulae. The cylinder or lozenge has a hole through its g center ana channels lengthwise which allows the yzater under pressure to pass through such opening and act upon the powder in the walls of the cake, dissolving the powder into solution. Thus, there is a constant flow of germicidal, disinfect- io ing or healing solution without interruption of the water flow. This particular construction is of great importance inasmuch. as it makes possible the formation of the desired solution without the possibility of blocking the passage 15. through the chamber as hole and channels have as great or greater area as the lumen of the tube, and presents the medicinal qualities of the powder in an extremely effective form because of its being suspended in solution, thus thoroughly 20. contacting all parts of the wall of the vagina.

I further provide a screen to cover the entire face of the end of the chamber through which the water emerges after passing through the center of the lozenge or cylindrical cake of medicinal 25, powder. This screen has a double function. It prevents the passage of undissolved particles or lumps of the medicinal powder into the vagina, and assists in breaking up such particles so that they may be readily dissolved in the water. The 30 screen may be either fitted up against the end of the chamber and maintained thereby the pressure of the lozenge, or the screen may have a central pin extending from it into the hole of the lozenge which maintains the screen in position. 35

The screen further operates to froth the solu- ’ ’ tion after it passes through the lozenge of medicinal powder, and thus effects the formation of a frothy liquid which is an extremely desirable function in apparatuses of this nature. ₄₀

I may further provide an adjoining chamber adapted to contain a soap or froth-forming material in lozenge or cylindrical cake form, also with a hole through the center, in which case it is desirable that the screen be placed at the rear 45; of the chamber containing such froth forming material.

Alternatively I may employ a single chamber in the base of the douche appliance adapted to. contain two cakes or logenzes with central openings, one of the lozenges being germicidal or medicinal and. the other being of a froth-forming material. Preferably, there is a ridge or spacing between the two to enable a proper mixing of 55

2,199,844 these materials into the fluid, but such a ridge is not essential for satisfactory results.

Although I have made particular reference to the source of supply of the water as being a 5 faucet or other continuous pressure source, it is also within the contemplation of my invention to employ any water supply such as the bag of a fountain syringe or metal or glass receptacle or any other suitable method of obtaining the neces10 sary water supply which may be available. In instances where comparatively high pressure sources of water are not to be employed, then the use of the pressure control described hereinabove is not indicated, but the pressure may be regu15 lated or controlled by means of the commonly used fountain syringe clamp or regulator such as is applied to the hose which connects the watersupply with the douche appliance.

It is the object of my invention, therefore, to 20 produce a douche appliance of relatively simple construction to enable its manufacture at low cost.

It is another object of my invention to provide means in such apparatus for forming a ger25 micidal, disinfecting or medicinal solution within the douche appliance.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a germicidal powder in the form of a cake having a lozenge shape so that a hollow cylinder 30 is formed of such germicide. This hollow cylinder is placed in a chamber in the base of the douche appliance in such a manner that the water flowing therethrough passes through the central opening of the cake and continuously and 35: effectively dissolves the germicide contained therein into the water to form a germicidal solution.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a chamber for such hollow cylinder of germicidal or medicinal powder and a screen at the 40 rear end of such chamber to effectively prevent the passage of the particles from the chamber containing the germicidal powder; also, to effect a frothing action in the water containing the germicide.

⁴⁶ It is a further object of my invention to provide a pressure control cap of rubber or similar material to be used as a connection between the tube of the douche appliance and the mouth of the water faucet or suitable water source in order ⁸⁰ to maintain the pressure of the water at all times below a predetermined point.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel rubber cap connection adapted to engage in friction fit a pressure source of water to predetermine the pressure to be permitted to pass therethrough to a connecting tube.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a molded object, preferably of hard rubber or suitable plastic material, containing a pre⁶⁰ formed chamber adapted to hold a germicide in cylindrical form and having a large opening.

These and further objects of my present invention will become apparent from the description thereof and from the drawing which follows.

⁶⁵ Figure 1 is a perspective and partial cutaway section of the douche appliance of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the chamber containing the medicinal material, the shield and the douche appliance of my invention.

‘° Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3—3 of Figure 1 showing the intermediate appliance between the faucet or water supply and the tube of the douche appliance of my inven. tion.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4—4 of Figure 2 showing the screen and its relation to the lozenge.

Figure 5 is a modified form of my invention showing the chamber adapted to hold the two lozenges with central openings.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a faucet i with a rubber fitting 2 which frictionally engages the end of the water _ faucet I. The rubber fitting 2 terminates in a ¹⁰threaded end 5 over which is positioned the hose 6. Hose 6 terminates on one end 7 of a fitting 8. On the other end of the fitting 8 is a tube 9 relatively large in diameter which tube 9 terminates on the threaded end 11 of the chamber i2. The 1« extreme end of the chamber 12 is engaged -with the nozzle S3 and on the nozzle 13 is positioned the shield (4. The nozzle 13 terminates in the. large opening 15 through which the solution flows. 20

In Figure 2 there is shown the hose 9 and the threaded end il of the chamber 12. Through the end ί I is a large passage 2B for the flow of water. In the chamber 12 is a lozenge 2'1 of medicinal material having a central opening 22. The cham- 25 ber 12 preferably is of transparent material so that casual inspection reveals the amount of powdered material of the lozenge or cake which remains in the chamber. At one end of the chamber 12 at the extreme end of the lozenge 2.1 30 is the screen 23 which is pressed between the cake 21 and the threaded end 24 of the nozzle 13. Nozzle 13 screws into the chamber 12 in firm engagement therewith. Shield 14 may be detach- „ ably mounted on the nozzle ί 3 or may be permanently secured thereto.

In Figure 3 I show in detail the rubber fitting with the central opening 3 and the chamber 4. When the water pressure from the nozzle I is above that desired, the pressure of that water 49: upon the surf ace 2 is such that because of the inability of sufficient water, to escape through the opening 3 the fixture 2 is forced out of friction engagement with the faucet 1 and disengages therefrom. ·.· 45/

In. Figure 5 I show a chamber 30 which engages ; at 31 in screw thread engagement with the fitting. 32. When disengaged at that point a lozenge of medicinal material 33 with a central opening 34 is placed therein and the lozenge 35 and the cen- 50.. tral opening 36 is placed in the chamber from the opposite end. A central ridge 37 separates the two lozenges from each other so that adeauate mixing and solution formation is effected, first, , of the medcinal material contained in the cake 55 33 and then of the froth forming material contained in the cake 35. A screen 40 is positioned at one end of the chamber 30 and is so positioned for frothing and screening effects.

The douche appliance which has been specifi- βθ. cally described is of particular importance because of its simplicity and because of its medicinal effectiveness. As can be seen from the detailed description of the drawing which has been set forth hereinbefore, the parts are relatively 35^, few in number and capable of manufacture by simple apparatus. The medicinal and cleansing effectiveness of the appliance is achieved because, first, of the constant formation of a proper solution of medicinal material; second, because of the free flow of a large quantity of water; third, because of the frothing effect of the structure enhanced by the screen interposed as described hereinbefore; fourth, because of the positioning of the shield for the substantial stoppage of the 75

2,189,844 water flow in combination with the relatively large amount of water admitted by the appliance making for a thorough and effective ballooning and cleansing. The regulation of the pressure 5 produced by the friction fit is important in view of the large quantity of water passing through the douche appliance. It is rather important that the pressure be kept below a set maximum with a construction of this nature both because of XO this large quantity of water and also because of the maner of forming the medicinal solution by the surface washing contact with the lozenge contained in the chamber. In other words, if the pressure became too great, hence the speed of X5 the water through the appliance too great, there would be an insufficient dissolving of the medicinal material and hence a solution of insufficient strength. ,

Certain modifications are apparent with re20 spect to my device and I intend to be limited only by the claims as appended.