US565836A - Bath-tub - Google Patents

Description

l UNITED STATES ATnNT riuCE,v

GEORGE FRANKLIN BUTTERFIELD, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

BATH-TU B. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,836, dated August 11, 1896.

Application filed June 6, 1895. Serial No. 551,885. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE FRANKLIN BUTTEBFIELD, of Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bath-Tubs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The obj eet of the invention is to provide a new and improved bath-tub which can be readily divided to form a foot-bath or childrens tub in the supply end, to permit of conveniently bathing children, and to save a considerable quantity of water, which is otherwise necessary for filling the entire tub.

The invention consists principally of a gate hung on one side of a bath-tub near the foot end, the said gate being adapted to close the upper or head portion to the water-supply.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view ofthe im provement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, looking toward the head portion; and Fig. 3 is a like View looking toward the foot portion.

The improved bathtub A, made of suitable material, is provided with a foot or lower part A and a widened head portion A2, arranged to permit the user to have perfect freedom of his arms while bathing in the tub. In the lower end of the tub Aare arranged the usual hot and cold water supply pipes B, and near this lower end is hung a gate C, connected by hinges D with one side of the tub. The gate C extends the full height of the tub A, and is adapted to fold to one side thereof when not in use, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. W'hen the gate Gis swung open, as shown in the drawings, it forms a transverse partition in the tub for dividing the lower or foot portion A from the head portion A2 and for forming a foot-bath or childrens tub inthe lower end of the bath-tub. The gate C when swung open rests against cleats E, secured to the sides and bottom of the tub, so that when the gate is in this position and the water is turned on through the Supplypipes B, then this lower portion of the tub is filled with water for a foot-bath or for bathing children, as the case may be. On the side on which the hinges D are attached is arranged a seat F, extending outwardly and upwardly from the top edge of the side of the batlrtub, to be supported on suitable brackets G, attached to the outer face of this side of the tub. By this arrangement a person desiring to takea foot-bath can conveniently seat himself while taking the foot-bath.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described but a small amount of water. is required for taking a foot-bath or for bathing children, as the upper or head portion is shut off to the water supply by the gate C, which extends transversely in the tub and forms a partition therefor. When the tub is to be used for a regular bath, then the gate C is swung to the side of the bath-tub on which it is hinged, so as to be completely out of the way. It is understood that when the gate closes the head portion to the water-supply and water passes into the foot end of the tub. Then the gate C is firmly pressed to its seat on the cleats E by the weight of the water, so that leakage of the 4water into the upper head portion of the tub is not liable to take place.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A bath-tub provided with a gate hinged at one edge to the inner surface of the tub, whereby the gate can be swung to form a transverse partition to divide the tub into compartments, or to be folded against the inner surface of the tub when not in use, substantially as described.

2. A bathetub provided, at one side of the center of its length, with a gate hinged at one edge to the inner surface of the tub to swing in direction of the water-supply end thereof, whereby the gate can be swung to divide the tub into two unequal compartments, andl when so swung is adapted to be held firmly to its seat by the pressure of the water in the smaller compartment, substantially as described.

3. A bath-tub provided with a gate hinged IOO vided with a gate hinged to the inner surface of the body portion a short distance from its Water-supply end, said gate being near the foot end of the tub and adapted to be swung across the saine to form a foot or ehilds tub at the lower end of the body portion, substantially as described.

GEORGE FRANKLIN BUTTERFIELD. Titnessesz CHAs. HALL ADAMS, BLANCHE IRENE BRACKETT.

Images