Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – With user access means in side of the tub
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-28
2002-05-07
Buiz, Michael Powell (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
With user access means in side of the tub
C004S556000, C004S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06381769
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bathtubs and bathtub/shower combinations that satisfy the needs of persons with temporary or permanent disabilities that render use of a conventional bathtub difficult or impossible. In particular, the present invention relates to a bathtub apparatus having a movable front panel and an elevated bed or seat, so that the bathtub can be accessed directly from a wheelchair with only lateral movement.
2. Discussion of Background
Existing bathtubs and bathtub/shower combinations come in a variety of sizes, types and configurations, ranging from older cast iron tubs that are raised on feet, to newer tubs that have oval or rounded rectangular tub recessions set into the tub structure at an angle. Some tubs have built-in Jacuzzi™ or other whirlpool units, heaters, and other devices that add to the user's comfort and enjoyment.
Despite the growing awareness that large numbers of people simply cannot use conventional bathroom fixtures safely (or even use them at all), essentially all present-day bathrooms contain bathtubs designed for the hypothetical “average” adult. Whatever their age or type, conventional bathtubs have raised walls that the user must step over, or steps that the user must climb in order to use the tub. Many people have temporary or permanent disabilities that render the use of a conventional bathtub difficult or impossible, even with the assistance of a nurse or other caregiver. (As used herein, the term “disability” refers to any condition, temporary or permanent, that hinders a person's access to and use of conventional bathtubs and/or showers. Such disabilities include paraplegia, missing limbs, fractures, osteoporosis, impaired balance, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and so forth.) In the United States alone, over six million people routinely use a mobility-assisting device such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs, scooters, and the like; over four million people have difficulty taking a bath or shower; and almost three million need personal assistance in taking a bath or shower. Thus, there is a growing market for universally-accessible bathroom designs, a market that is anticipated to parallel the increase in the average age of the U.S. population and growing awareness of the needs of disabled persons and the elderly. A variety of devices are available to assist disabled persons in bathing, showering, etc., ranging from non-skid surfaces and sturdy grab bars to bath lifts, fixed or swiveling bathtub seats, and tubs with access doors. Presently-available devices include tubs with access doors such as those made by the Silcraft Corporation of Traverse City, Minn. and the Kohler Company of Kohler, Wis.
Bathtub devices are shown in a number of U.S. Patents, including Bourgraf, et al. (Des. 351,018) and Sween (Des. 285,346), which disclose ornamental designs for bathtubs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,614 issued to Appleford, et al. shows a bathtub having a side opening which extends over the full width and height of the bath and is surrounded by an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt. A door with a channel on its inner surface is upwardly translatable in its own plane to bring the door over the opening and force the skirt into sealing engagement with a seal in the channel. The seal may be a foamed rubber seal or a part fluid-filled flexible tube.
McAllister, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,780 disclose a ramp which is pivotable from a generally horizontal position for elevating wheel chairs into a shower or other location to a generally vertical position which uses the ramp to hold shower curtains within the shower. The ramp has a dam which prevents water from running onto the floor.
Sills, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,929) show a bath tub with a main tub body, a door support, a tambour door assembly, a door seal, and a control system. The tambour door is in a horizontal position under the floor when open and in a vertical position closing the open side of the main tub body when closed. The seal includes an inflatable tube.
Sween (U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,400) discloses a bathing tub apparatus that includes a tub with a sealable door, a prefillable reservoir positioned above the tub, and a support unit which includes a storage cabinet, a liquid circulation system, and a hand-held shower. The reservoir is held by the support unit. The Sween device also includes a hand held shower that may be used by the person in the tub.
Williams (U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,241) shows a bathtub with an entrance wall with an opening which conforms to the shape of the door, a front wall adjacent to the entrance wall, a seat located in the tub, and a locking mechanism which can secure the door in an open or closed position. The front edge of the door is attached adjacent to the front wall of the bathtub by a double axis hinge. When the door is opened, its front edge is guided directly inwardly in the tub by a tracking mechanism; the door is configured so that, during movement, it does not swing over the seat.
Corlew (U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,312) provides a bath tub having side walls, a rear wall, an entrance, and a door for closing the entrance. The entrance has a seal engageable with a chamfered inner surface of the door when the door is closed and water pressure is exerted on the seal.
Schenstrõm (U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,693) discloses a tub having an opening extending almost down to the bottom of the tub and a hatch to close the opening. The hatch is placed on the inside of the bathtub and the hydrostatic forces of the water force the hatch against the edges of the opening where a seal is provided on the hatch.
S Houle, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,506) disclose a bathtub with an access opening in one side, and a vertically sliding door to close the access opening, a combination door guide and grab bar arrangement, an adjustable control console, and a power door lock which securely closes the door without significant manual effort.
Budlong (U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,424) provides an auxiliary bathtub mounted above a conventional bathtub, including a rectangular frame approximating the shape of a conventional bathtub and a flexible waterproof liner extending between the side and end walls of the frame and along the inside faces thereof to form a watertight container. At least one of the side walls pivots downwardly to allow entry and exit from the tub, and is held in its upright position by a releasable latching mechanism.
Finch, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,762) show an elevated bathtub with a floor supported at approximately normal chair height and a side opening serving as en entryway through one of the walls of the tub. The entryway is provided with a water-tight barrier which may be moved out of the way to permit a person to enter the tub, and replaced once the person is inside the tub.
In addition to the above-described bathtubs, “walk-in” and “wheel-in” showers are becomingly increasingly common in hospitals, nursing homes, and even private homes designed for accessibility. However, showers cannot duplicate the therapeutic effects of soaking in a bathtub, and many people simply prefer tub baths to showers. Some estimates suggest that the United States market for accessible bathtubs could easily approach 30,000 or more per year. However, it is believed that presently available bathtub designs do not satisfactorily address the needs of the large and growing population of individuals who cannot use a conventional bathtub.
Many of the above-described bathtubs require more space for doors, tracks, lifts, water reservoirs, and other components than is available in typical bathrooms. Many are also complex, high-maintenance, and prohibitively expensive for all but institutional use.
This invention relates generally to the design and construction of bathtubs and bathtub/shower combinations, and more specifically to the design and construction of bathtubs and bathtub/shower combinations that address the unique needs of persons with disabilities. Appropriate bathtub designs for this group would not only help such persons in an impor
Buiz Michael Powell
Prunner Kathleen J.
Reichmanis Maria
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