US3044469A - Bath apparatus for treating and stimulating human body - Google Patents

Description

July 17, 1962 J, v 3,044,469

BATH APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND STIMULATING HUMAN BODY Filed May 22 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J O H N V I G H July 17, 1962 J. VlGH BATH APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND STIMULATING HUMAN BODY Filed May 22 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T I H U m 64 5:; 2e 5 W a now 3 Eyi.

INVENTOR. JOHN -.V|GH

3,044,469 BATH APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND STIMULATING HUMAN BODY John Vigh, 498 Hart St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,649 3 Claims. (Cl. 128365) This invention relates generally to bath apparatus and more particularly to bath apparatus of the type employed in administering treatments that have a stimulating and healthful effect on the body of the person receiving the same.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a heating apparatus that is portable and adapted to be mounted in bathtubs of ordinary construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide portable heating apparatus that is readily connected to and disconnected from the ordinary water supply pipe and drain pipe of the ordinary bathtub construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide portable heating apparatus that is shaped and constructed so as to surround a person when he is in sitting position in a bathtub.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a heating apparatus for bathtubs that is adjustable as to length and height. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fluid heating apparatus having an improved manifold and novel flexible connections therefor with a source of fluid.

It is also an object to provide a portable flm'd heating apparatus which may be manufactured and sold at relatively low cost and carried about wherever desired for use in administering stimulating and invigorating heat treatment.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of heating apparatus for a bathtub embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the apparatus installed in a bathtub having the water supply at the end of the tub, parts being broken away, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the apparatus installed in a bathtub having the water supply at the end of the tub, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the end pipe sup porting bracket.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified form of heating apparatus installed in a bathtub having the water supply at the center of the tub, on an enlarged scale.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1, a heating apparatus for use in a bathtub in the home is shown designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The heating apparatus it) comprises a single continuous pipe 11 coiled and looped to provide a plurality of partly superimposed coil pipe sections 14, forming a manifold structure 16 rectangular in plan. Each superimposed pipe section 14 includes two pairs of rigid straight side pipes 18 and 29, round in cross-section, and a flexible curved pipe 22 at one end thereof. The two lowermost pipe sections '14 each is provided at its other end with a pair of flexible curved pipes 24 connected at one end to the other ends of the pipes 29 and with a short length of rigid pipe 25 connected to the other end of the curved States atent 0 3,044,469 Patented July 17, 1962 pipes 24. The uppermost pipe section 14 however is provided with only a single flexible pipe 26 connected at one end to the other end of the pipe 20 of the uppermost pipe section 14. The flexible curved end pipes are formed with fins 27. The pipe '18 of each pair of side pipes at one end is formed with a socket joint 28 to receive fit tin'gly and adjustably the adjacent end 29 of the pipe 20. The other end 30 of each pipe 18 is fitted over the adjacent end 32 of the adjacent flexible end pipe 22. The other end 34 of the pipe 20 of the pair is fitted over the adjacent end 36 of the adjacent flexible end pipe 24.

The pipe sections 14 are disposed in partly superimposed position and are held and supported in such position by means of a plurality of I spaced U-shaped straps constituting brackets 45 one arm 42 of which is corrugated to conform to the shape of the round pipes. Belt and nut units 44 disposed between the pipe sections 14 hold the arms of the bracket together in clamping engagement with the round pipes.

A sleeve 464's mounted on one end of the continuous pipe 11 forming the manifold structure 16 and a funnel 48 is positioned in the outer end of the sleeve. A rubber hose 50 has one end connected to the other end of the continuous pipe 11 and carries a rubber disk 52 with a central opening on its other end. I

At one end of the manifold structure 16, an L-shaped bracket 54 fasten-s the pipes 25 together. A pair of straps 56 clamp the pipes to one arm 58.0f the bracket and to an extension 60 on the arm 58 by means of bolt and nut units 61. The other arm 62 of the bracket 54 is formed with a central hole 63 for receiving and directing the end hose 50.

In using the heating manifold with a bathtub such as the bathtub 64 shown in FIG. 2 with the Water faucet 66 at the end thereof, warm water is placed in the bottom of the bathtub to the desired height. The heating apparatus 10 is then placed on the bottom of the bathtub and the funnel 48 positioned around the water faucet 66. The perforated disk 52 is placed over the drain outlet 68 in the tub, the plug having first been removed. The per-son desiring to take the bath then climbs into the tub and sits on the bottom of the tub clear of the manifold structure. The user then turns on the hot water which circulates through the heating apparatus heating the air and the water in the tub, which air and water when applied to the body of the user result in an invigorating and healthful effect upon the body of the person.

In FIG. 5, the heating apparatus 19 is shown connected to a water faucet 7t) positioned at the side of the bathtub 64 instead of at the end. In such a case, the end pipe 26 of the uppermost pipe section 14 is twisted and bent backwardly and upwardly so *as :to position the funnel 48 over the faucet. The faucet holds the end pipe 26 in a standup position.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there is provided pursuant to the present invention, a heating apparatus which is especially adapted for home use, which requires no permanent plumbing connections or interferenoc with existing plumbing lines, which may be readily attached to and removed from a bathtub so as not to in terfere with the normal use thereof when required, and which can be simply operated by a person in his home.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated pipe formed into three superposed elongated loops adapted to extend the length of a bathtub, on the I 7 inside thereof, with the long reaches of the loops spaced laterally from each other providing a space for the user of'the bathtub to sit therebetween, U-shaped brackets for holding the loops in superposed relation, heat radiating fins on the curved ends of the loops, an extension on the topmost loop extending perpendicularly of the plane of the loop, means for attaching one end of the pipe to a source of water supply, and means for attaching the other end of the pipe to the drain of a bathtub.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated pipe rformed into three superposed elongated loops adapted to extend the length of a bathtub, on the inside thereof, with the long reaches of the loops spaced laterally from each other providing a space for the user of the bathtub to sit therebetween, U-shaped brackets for holding the loops in superposed relation, heat radiating fins on the curved ends of the loops, an extension on the end of the topmost loop extending perpendicularly of the plane of the loop, a funnel on the free end of the extension for attachment to a Water faucet, and means for attaching the end of the lowermost loopto the drain of a bathtub. s

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated pipe formed into three superposed elongated loops adapted to extend the length of a bath-tub, on the inside thereof, with the long reaches of the loops spaced laterally from each other providing a space for the user of the bathtub to sit therebetween, U-shaped brackets for holding the loops in superposed relation, heat radiating fins on the curved ends of the loops, an extension on the end of the topmost loop extending perpendicularly of the plane of the loop, a funnel on the free end of the extension for attachment to a water faucet, a flexible pipe on the free end of the lowermost loop, and a perforated plug'on said flexible pipe for insertion into the drain opening in a bathtub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,599 Le Fevre Dec. 19,1916 1,636,568 Kennedy July 10, 1927 1,982,258 Martin Nov. 27, 1934 2,250,325 Barnes July 22, 1941

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