US482368A - Arthur c - Google Patents

Description

* (No Model.)

A. C. KIMBER. PORTABLE VESSEL.

Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. KIMBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,368, dated September 13, 1892.

Application filed November 10, 1890. Serial No. 370,956. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. KIMBER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and` useful Improvements in Portable Vessels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention consists in the features and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth, and covered in the claims.

The object of myimprovement is to furnish a portable bath-tub or other vessel of simple and durable construction, which may be compactly folded up for convenience in storage and transportation, and capable of being opened to hold a desired quantity of water for bathing or other purposes.

All constructions of portable bath tubs heretofore devised are quite bulky and occupy considerable trunk or valise space in traveling and are also quite expensive. With my light, durable, and inexpensive article a thorough sponge bath can be taken with about a pailful of water and the water poured out and the device folded and packed in a small bag or valise without danger of wetting carpet or furniture.

The invention is applicable to other vessels than portable bath-tubs, as in cases where permanent vessels are not at hand and temporary ones are wanted for many purposes.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved portable Vessel as applied to a bathtub spread open for use, a portion being broken away to show the supporting-frame of sectional slats or bars. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the supporting-frame partly folded up into place for transportation or storage. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig-2, the frame being almost wholly folded up. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the frame folded up with the rubber or other waterproof or impermeable cloth wrapped around it. Fig. 5 is a detailview of the ends of two of the slats or bars, showing one manner of pivoting the bars together. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 0c of Fig. 5.

a a are a series of slats or bars made of wood or other suitable material, hinged end to end, as shown at b b, by iat swivel-hinges, which permit the slats or bars to move both slats or bars a a are made of rather heavy material, so as to form a substantial support for the flexible water-receptacle, and in the instance shown in the drawings not more than four or five inches high, for the purpose of presenting the greatest area with a limited amount of water. I prefer, in the application of the invention to a bath-tub, to make these slats or bars about eighteen inches long as a most convenient length for traveling purposes. However,I do not limit myself to any of these proportions, as they may bc varied at will.

In order that the frame may be folded together without separating any of the slats or bars and that all locks and catches may be dispensed with when the frame is opened for use, I provide a short slat or connecting-bar a equal in length to the combined thickness of the several long slats. It will thus be seen that the slats are at all times permanently and securely hinged together and that they can be opened for use by one simple pull and closed as easily. When the frame is folded together, this short slat or connecting-bar will be at right angles and at the end of the series of long bars, forming a substantially solid block 0f rectangular form, around which the waterproof cloth may be wound, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is apparent that any even number of long slats maybe used without departing from the principle of my invention. The number of long slats shown in the drawings is siX, which, when opened, gives a convenient size of vessel both for use and transportation.

When it is desired to use the vessel, the series of slats or bars are spread open on the floor in a loop or ring form, as shown in Fig. 1, and a rubber or other waterproof cloth is thrown over the device, extending some distance beyond the frame, this depending upon the height of the frame and amount of water placed therein. Water is then poured into the center space and the bath is ready. After use the corners and edges of the cloth are carefully drawn together to form a bag, the contents lifted off the frame and poured in a IOO Waste-receptacle. The slats or bars are then folded togetherand the cloth after being dried is rolled around them.

For tourists and families in the country, Where bath-tubs are scarce or do not exist at all, the vessel herein described, used as a portable bath-tub,will prove of the greatest utility, particularly in View of its occupying so small valise space when closed, and being capable of being opened to present nearly as much Water area as an ordinary bath-tub.

I claim- 1. A vessel havinga frame composed of sections of slats or bars, each slat or bar pivoted at its end to the end of its contiguous slat or bar in a continuous loop or circle, so that when spread open such frame forms continuous sides, in combination with a rubber or other Waterproof or impermeable cloth, substantially as set forth.

2. A frame for a bathtub orother portable vessel, consisting of an even number or series of slats hinged together end to end and an additional slat connected to the free ends of the end slats of the series by hinges, the additional slat being equal in length to the aggregate thickness of the even number of slats, substantially as described.

3. A frame for a bath-tub or other portable vessel, consisting of an even number or series of slats hinged together end to end and an additional slat connected to the free end of the end slats of the series by hinges, the additional slat being equal in length to the aggregate thickness of the even number of slats, in combination with an impermeable cloth, substantially as described.

ARTHUR C. KIMBER. Witnesses:

A. M. TODD, CEAS. D. PETRIE.

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