Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – With user access means in side of the tub
Patent
1986-03-10
1989-01-10
Recla, Henry J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
With user access means in side of the tub
4556, 4584, A47K 302
Patent
active
047963123
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bathing apparatus, and in particular to bathing apparatus for persons who have difficulty in climbing into and/or standing in conventional bath tubs and showers. The invention further relates to the seals for the doors of bathing apparatus.
Conventional bath tubs comprise a base surrounded by an upstanding wall. In order to enter such tubs, the user must climb over the wall. This can present great difficulty or prove impossible to persons with physical infirmities caused by age, disease, injury and the like. In order to bathe in such a tub, the user must drop to a seated position on the base of the tub, which again is difficult or impossible for some persons who are disabled for some reason. Furthermore, many disabled persons are unable to stand erect to take showers in conventional bath tubs or in various types of shower stalls. Since the act of cleaning oneself is considered by most people to be a very private affair, the need of assistance of another person by individuals unable to use existing bath tubs and shower stalls can be a very degrading and embarassing experience by persons who are infirm for one reason or another, as well as causing considerable discomfort to such persons even if they can use existing bathing apparatus by themselves. Moreover, for such persons who for one reason or another must use such bathing apparatus in the presence of others, the lack of privacy can be a very unpleasant experience.
In view of the foregoing shortcomings of conventional bath tubs and shower stalls to infirm persons, various alternate proposals have been made which involve the provision of bath tubs having entrance doors in a vertical wall thereof. Such proposals have been made in U.S. Pat. Nos. 746,389, 746,390, 2,068,457, 2,075,933, 2,456,275, 2,569,825, 2,570,053, 2,714,725, 2,804,629, 2,991,482, 3,066,316, 3,371,354, 3,380,078, 3,416,166, 3,423,769, 3,703,733, 3,719,960 and 3,863,275.
Perhaps the most significant shortcoming of known tubs and stalls for the infirm is the lack of an effective seal for preventing the leakage of water from the unit during use. The seriousness of this problem is reflected in the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,275, where resort was made to a pneumatic construction to alleviate the leakage problem. The inconvenience and complexity of that construction is a major disadvantage of that device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an improved bath apparatus for infirm persons.
Another object is to provide a compact bath apparatus which can be entered without having to climb over a wall.
A further object is to provide a portable bath apparatus for infirm persons which can be used in private homes or institutions in an easy and effective manner.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a bathtub having a vertical entrance door, and an effective water seal for preventing leakage of water from the tub.
It is still another object to provide a bath tub for infirm persons having an effective and efficient drainage system.
Another object is to provide a bath apparatus for infirm persons which can be used in privacy by such persons.
It is another object to provide a bath tub for infirm persons which can be used in comfort and with ease.
A general object of the invention is to provide an improved bathing apparatus which can be used by infirm persons, which is economical and practicable to manufacture, and effective in use. Other objects will be apparent from the description to follow and from the appended claims.
The present invention in its preferred form comprises a bath tub having a vertical wall structure with an opening in which is received a hinged door. The inner face of the door has a rearwardly facing peripheral portion with a chamfered surface which is inclined towards a central recessed portion of the door. The tub has an opening about which are three forwardly facing surfaces against which the rearward peripheral portion abuts when the door is closed. A resilient gasket
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Cusick Ernest G.
Hochberg D. Peter
Kusner Mark M.
Recla Henry J.
Weisz Louis J.
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