Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Combined with diverse means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2001-05-08
Eloshway, Charles R. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Combined with diverse means
C004S556000, C004S557000, C004S612000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226808
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bathing stalls and more particularly pertains to a new bathtub and shower combination for allowing an open bath area while preventing water from escaping the bathtub area while showering.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bathing stalls is known in the prior art. More specifically, bathing stalls heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,787; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 369,399; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 319,093; U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,954, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 360,022; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 372,520.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new bathtub and shower combination. The inventive device includes a bathing stall. The bathing stall has a first and second walls joined at a vertical edge. The first and second walls are orientated generally perpendicular to each other. A bathtub is elongate and has a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall. A first of end walls is fixedly coupled to the first wall of the bathing stall. A first of the side walls is fixedly coupled to the second wall of the bathing stall. Each of the walls of the bathtub has a top edge. A faucet for delivering water to the bathtub is mounted on a top edge of the bathtub. A shower portion includes a door. The door is hingedly coupled to a free vertical edge of the first wall of the bathing stall. A generally planar post extending vertically from the top edge of the second side wall. The post and the free vertical edge of the first wall defines a door frame for the door. A shower head delivers water to the shower portion. The shower head is fixedly mounted to the first wall of the bathing stall.
In these respects, the bathtub and shower combination according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing an open bath area while preventing water from escaping the bathtub area while showering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bathing stalls now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new bathtub and shower combination construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing an open bath area while preventing water from escaping the bathtub area while showering.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new bathtub and shower combination apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the bathing stalls mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new bathtub and shower combination which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bathing stalls, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a bathing stall. The bathing stall has a first and second walls joined at a vertical edge. The first and second walls are orientated generally perpendicular to each other. A bathtub is elongate and has a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall. A first of end walls is fixedly coupled to the first wall of the bathing stall. A first of the side walls is fixedly coupled to the second wall of the bathing stall. Each of the walls of the bathtub has a top edge. A faucet for delivering water to the bathtub is mounted on a top edge of the bathtub. A shower portion includes a door. The door is hingedly coupled to a free vertical edge of the first wall of the bathing stall. A generally planar post extending vertically from the top edge of the second side wall. The post and the free vertical edge of the first wall defines a door frame for the door. A shower head delivers water to the shower portion. The shower head is fixedly mounted to the first wall of the bathing stall.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Pat. and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new bathtub and shower combination apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the bathing stalls mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new bathtub and shower combination which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bathing stalls, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new bathtub and shower combination which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new bathtub and shower combination which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new bathtub and shower combination which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such bathtub and shower combination economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new bathtub and shower combination which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new bathtub and shower combination for allowing an open bath area while preventing water from escaping the bathtub area while showering.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new bathtub and shower combination which includes a bathing stall. The bathing stall has a first and second walls joined at a vertical edge. The first and second walls are orientated generally per
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