US2551552A - Collapsible bath cabinet - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, .1947

HTTORNEX 39531 A. G. WAHI. 55L

COtLAPSIBLE BATH CABINET Filed May 28, 1947 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2

VEN 70 R.

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Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates generally to a bath cabinet of the portable collapsible type and has for its principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of existing forms of similar bath cabinets; to provide a strong, lightweight cabinet which may be readily collapsed and folded into small compass when stored or transported and further, to provide a cabinet having simple and efficient means for producing and maintaining abrisk circulation or heated air through the cabinet and which air may be treated so as to produce medicated vapor.

Further objects of my invention are, to pro-v vide a cabinet of the character referred to having a seat capable of being readily adjusted ver tically for the convenience of users of different sizes; further, to equip the cabinet with a lamp capable of giving of? light rays of particular therapeutic value to the patients using the cabinet and further to provide simple means whereby the person occupying the cabinet may, readily control the heating and circulation of air or vapor within the cabinet, also for controlling the operation of the therapeutic lamp.

With the foregoing and further objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken. through the center of my improved cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combined cover and back wall of the cabinet, and showing portions of the flexible walls.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible front and side walls of the cabinet.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a book rest or small table which may be removably mounted on the side of the open cabinet.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cabinet collapsed and folded for storage or transportation.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, lll designates the bottom of a shallow rectangular box which includes side walls H, rear wall l2, front wall It and a short top wall M, projecting rearwardly from said front wall.

A lid or cover I5 is hinged to the top of rear wall 12 and, when closed, closes the space be- 2 tween said rear wall and the short top wall l4. (See Fig. 7.)

Hinged to a cleat it on the underside of cover 15 is a panel ll provided with a notch l8 for reception of the neck of the person using the cabinet and overlying said panel and secured thereto, is the upper portion I9 of a wall of flexible air and moisture proof material such as rubberized fabric.

Formed in the center of member I9 is a neck opening 2!. Wall 20 is slit lengthwise midway between its side edges, from neck opening 2| to a point near top wall member i4 and said slit is normally closed by a conventional sliding fastener 22.

Triangular side walls 23 of flexible air and inoistureproof material are secured to the side edges of wall 20, with the rear vertical edges of said side walls secured to the underface of cover hi near its side edges and the lower horizontal edges of these side walls extend down loosely, just inside walls ll.

Upper and lower folding braces 24 are arranged between the underface of cover l5 and the upper and lower portions of side walls 23, which braces are disposed outwardly from said walls and are for the purpose of lending stability to the collapsible member 2023 when same is open for use.

A seat 25 is provided at its rear corners with hooks 26, adapted to engage pins 21, located at different elevations on cleats 28 secured to the inner face of cover i5, thus enabling the seat to be adjusted vertically for the convenience and comfort of patients of different heights.

A seat back 29 is hinged to the rear end of seat 25, and hinged to the forward underside of said seat, are the upper ends of legs 39, the lower ends of which are provided with vertically adjustable extensions 3|.

Formed in the upper portion of front wall 20 near right hand wall 23, is an arm hole 32 normally closed by an outwardly opening flap cover 33, and the lower end of a standard 34 is removably seated in a vertical bore 35 formed in the right hand side wall I I. Adjustably mounted in the upper end of standard 34 is a panel 36 adapted to receive a drinking glass, or book or newspaper. (See Fig. 6.)

Located in the rear portion of the box forming the body of the cabinet, is a housing 31 of asbestos or like fireproof material, which encloses a small electric heater 38 of conventional structure and formed in opposite side walls of this housing are air inlet and outlet openings 39 and 40,respective1y.

Formed in the top of housing 3! is an opening adapted to receive a metal cup 4| containing either plain or medicated water. Air outlet 49 is connected by a short duct 42 to a conven tional blower 43 actuated by a small electric motor 44.

Seated in the rear Wall [2 of the box is a socket 45 adapted to receive a plug 46, connected to electric conductors and leading from said socket to motor 44, heater 38, and to the socket 41 for a therapeutic lamp 48 in the box, beneath top member 14, are suitably arranged electric circuit conductors 49.

Located on the underside of cover 15 to the right hand of seat 25 are two conventional electric switches 59, to which conductors 49 are connected so that one switch controls motor 6. and heater 38, and the other, the lamp 48.

When collapsed and folded for storage or trans portation, the cabinet appears as seen in Fig. '7, with the seat folded and lying fiat on the central portion of bottom [0. After braces 24 have been broken, top plate [9 and flexible walls 22 and 23 are folded into the box on top of the folded seat, such folding or compacting acting being accomplished by moving cover l5 into closed position.

To use the cabinet, the patient enters same through open slit 20 and occupies the chair with the head projecting through opening 2|. Sliding fastener is now manipulated by an attendant to close the slit, and if the patient is to receive therapeutic light ray treatment, the proper switch 50 is actuated so as to light lamp 48 and the rays emanating therefrom will strike practically all portions of the surfaces of the patients limbs and body.

To take warm or hot air treatment, the switch controlling motor 64 is actuated, and as blower 43 is operated, air drawn into housing through inlet 39, will be heated by heater 38 and after passing through outlet 48 and duct 42 will discharge from blower 43, forwardly through the lower portion of the cabinet and then pass upwardly and rearwardly to contact all portions of the patients limbs and body.

If moist air treatment is desired, cup 4! may be filled with water which is vaporized by heater 38 and for medicated vapor treatment, the proper medical ingredients are added to the water in said cup.

The arm of the patient in the cabinet may be readily extended through aperture 32, thus giving access to beverages or food placed in panel 36 while same is in a horizontal position and functioning as a table, or to a paper, magazine, or book on said panel when same is adjusted into an inclined position.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a portable collapsible bath cabinet which is simple in structure, capable of being readily collapsed into small compass, likewise unfolded and opened for use and provides simple and efiicient means for furnishing warm or hot air body treatments, plain or medicated vapor treatments, also for therapeutic light ray treatments.

Minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved collapsible bath cabinet may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a collapsible bath cabinet, the combination with a shallow container and hinged cover therefor, of flexible front and side walls connecting the sides of said container and its cover, a seat, adjustable connections between the rear end of said seat and the under side of the cover, a seat back hinged to the rear end of said seat, legs hinged at their upper ends to the front of said seat, vertically adjustable means between the lower ends of said legs and the bottom of said container, a panel hinged to the underside of said cover near its forward end and provided with a notch, the upper portion of the flexible front wall of the cabinet overlying said panel and having an aperture which coincides with the notch in the panel and means within said container for heating and circulating medicated air throughout said cabinet.

ALBERT G. WAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 169,142 Brosius Oct. 26, 1875 659,366 Elliott et a1 Oct. 9, 1900 1,464,093 Friedlander Aug. '7, 1923 2,292,666 Schurtz Aug. 11, 1942 2,303,465 Howard Dec. 1, 1942

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