Untitled record

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N.PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEREMIAH ESSEX, OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT.

SHOWER-BATH.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 6,746, dated September 25, 1849.

To dll whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jeremiah Essex, of Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented a new 5 Method of Constructing and Using Shower and Vapor Baths; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of 10 this specification, which is an elevation in section showing the whole.

The nature of my invention consists in providing an apparatus having the convenient attachments for a warm shower, cold 15 shower, and vapor baths, in one; and the whole being convenient for operation by the person using the bath, and for his changing from one to the other at pleasure; the whole being effected with very triffling costs over 20 that of the common shower bath.

I make a piston (a) having its handle at the upper end; this piston extends down into the lower reservoir (E) and has its end arranged for forcing, as a pump, in the cylin25 der (E).

The upper or main reservoir (&lt;?) consists of an enlarged tube surrounding the tube (E) and has a passage for the water at its bottom end, so that when the tube (E) is 30 filled nearly to the top the tube (&lt;?) is filled to the same height with the water which has passed out of the before named opening or (τι). A conducting pipe as (/) is attached to the side of the tube (E) which serves to 35 convey the water to the shower pot or (y); in its passage along the -pipe it meets the valve (Λ), this serves the purpose of valves generally and allows the water to pass up fully through it when pressed while it closes 40 by the weight of the water when it falls on its upper side after the removal of the pressure from the piston; the continuous route of the pipe (/) is intercepted by this valve, it still acts the same as if it were a continu45 ous pipe through the intervention of its surrounding Case (o).

The above parts constitute a plain shower bath for cold water only, and its operation is simply as follows:—Fill the tube (E and 50 e) with water, having previously removed the piston (a) therefrom, then insert the piston in its cylinder (E) and press upon the handle until the water is forced into the shower pot (y) where it of course showers into the chamber of the bath. To render 55 this a warm shower bath, the lamp (&lt;Z) is combined and attached to the tube (E) immediately below and near the enlarged or main tube (&lt;?)', this may be attached in any convenient way, and may be used as a heat- 60 ing lamp, and if it be lighted will heat the water in the main reservoir (c) to any desired temperature, when it may be showered with as set forth, hereinbefore. For the purpose of using it as a vapor bath a pipe as 65 (?n) is affixed near the top of the reservoir (c) which passes down near the bottom of the chamber and by holes allows of the escape of steam into the chamber. Where it is to be used as a vapor bath the pistons 70 should be withdrawn and its aperture . closed at the top, that is the tube (σ) should be closed at the top, and the lamp applied as before stated, to the reservoir (&lt;?) filled with water, when the heat generates the steam 75 which escapes into the chamber and fills it as required when the light may be put out. Thus by this simple arrangement I effect the convenient arrangement of a combined hot and cold water shower bath, and a vapor 80 bath. A funnel shaped top is provided to the top of (E) for convenience in pouring in the water. A wash pipe and cock are attached at the bottom of (/) see (7) by which the water may be drawn off from the whole, 85 an arrangement being made to raise the valve (7i) by the hand on the outside, which allows all to run out of the pipe (/), while the piston may force it all from the tube (E). ’ 90

These arrangements are surrounded by a frame work and curtains, or otherwise suitably inclosed by any well known means.