Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Shower – Particular construction
Patent
1988-05-11
1989-11-14
Recla, Henry J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Shower
Particular construction
4604, D23305, A47K 322
Patent
active
048797731
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a shower cabinet of the kind that has an entrance opening which is closed by means of a pivotable screen made of a relatively rigid material, e.g. toughened glass.
Because shower cabinets take up less floor space than conventional bath tubs, they are progressively replacing bath tubs when the space available therefore is confined. An object of the present invention is to provide a purposeful partial solution to the problem of constructing an all-round usable space for personal hygiene as a replacement for conventional bathrooms.
A particular object of the invention is to solve the problem of enabling a handicapped member of a family, e.g. a wheelchair-bound person, to use the shower cabinet for his own personal body hygiene, without this solution detracting from the possibility of the shower cabinet being used by the remaining members of the family, and without the auxiliary devices provided for the assistance of the handicapped person encroaching on the space externally of the shower cabinet.
In accordance with the invention this problem is solved by means of a shower cabinet having an entrance opening which is covered at least partially by a hinged screen made of relatively hard material, e.g. toughened glass, characterized in that the screen includes a stiffening or reinforcement strip which is arranged along the vertical centre line of the screen and the respective ends of which strip are journalled for rotation in the upper and the lower part of the cabinet wall that incorporates the entrance opening; and in that a raisable and lowerable seat is attached to the strip.
This construction enables a wheelchair-bound person to swing himself into the shower cabinet unaided and to see to his personal body hygiene without assistance and without requiring the provision of separate auxiliary devices therefore. This represents a great advantage, since there is often insufficient room for such devices in confined spaces, such confined spaces being the primary area of use for the inventive shower cabinet. Furthermore, since the seat can be lifted to a vertical position it will not, when lifted, encroach on the available space inside and outside the cabinet. It is mentioned in this connection that the term "handicapped" is meant to apply to all persons who for some reason or another need to be seated when showering, e.g. in order to wash the soles of the feet without needing to balance on one leg.
In order to assist a wheelchair-bound person to lift himself from his wheelchair and onto the seat, a handle is arranged on the strip at a location above the seat, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment a fan dryer is arranged in the shower cabinet, so as to assist the handicapped person in drying himself. This prevents the handicapped person from becoming cold upon finishing his shower and also obviates the need of swinging out of the shower while dripping wet in order to reach a towel, placed at some suitable readily reached location, preferably on the wheelchair.
According to a further feature of the invention, the shower screen is provided on the side thereof opposite the seat-carrying strip with a further strip of similar profile to the strip on which the seat is fitted. This further strip supports suitable attachment means for washing hangers. This enables the fan dryer to be used to accelerate the drying of washing when the cabinet is not being used for showering purposes.
These further features of the invention and advantages afforded thereby will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shower cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates the cross-sectional profiles of a cabinet stiffening or reinforcement strip and of an attachment device co-operating therewith;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shower cabinet with the scre
REFERENCES:
patent: 1008957 (1911-11-01), Cox
patent: 3587118 (1971-06-01), Compton
patent: 3630193 (1971-12-01), Lancaster
patent: 3955239 (1976-05-01), Grossman
patent: 4491990 (1985-01-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 4564963 (1986-01-01), Bergmark
patent: 4569092 (1986-02-01), Baus
Jacyna J. Casimer
Recla Henry J.
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