Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – With user access means in side of the tub
Patent
1986-11-24
1989-04-04
Recla, Henry J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
With user access means in side of the tub
4590, A47K 302
Patent
active
048172197
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns a sitting bathtub with one side of the bathtub almost entirely open from rim to bottom and from front to back and an inwards curved hatch. The side opening of the bathtub is covered from the inside with this hatch after the entrance of the person that is to take a bath via this big lateral opening. Between hatch and the side of the bathtub is arranged a highly elastic seal.
The type of sitting bathtub under consideration (FIG. 1) is primarily intended for disabled, wheelchair users and others with similar movement restrictions. For muscle training in water it is for instance for a physical therapist essential to be able to see into the bathtub from the side in order to study and instruct the bathing and/or training person. The lateral hatch should for this reason among others be made from thinnest possible transparent or clear material for instance acrylic (plexiglass). The bathtub should further have a great depth (80-100 cm) so that the bathing person can be surrounded by water up to shoulders and neck and almost float in the water. The desirable big depth results in a high hydrostatic pressure at the lower part of the hatch and will result in bending outwards of the hatch. For instance it can be mentioned that a flat hatch of acrylic with the dimensions 90.times.100 cm and the thickness of 6 mm will have an arching outwards in the size of 15-20 mm horizontally as well as vertically. An outward curvature of this size is very apparent and experienced as a great factor of uncertainty in combination with the relatively big water volume (300-400 liters) of the bath when the tub is filled. A smaller curvature is however considered natural. The problem of the great curvature outwards results in a hatch that is precurved or arched inwards. Single or double curved hatch as well as the size of the curvature depends for instance on the material used and the material thickness. Shape and location of the curvature can be varied. Different cases are possible and may influence the shape of the lateral opening of a bathtub in the lateral direction in the sealing zone.
A. If the side of the bathtub at the opening lies in a plane or a single curved surface and the edge zone of the hatch at the sealing follows this plane (this surface) this case is already known from the Swedish Pat. No. 8400091-8. The rest of the curvature inwards of the hatch does not concern the sealing function. The described embodiment can be achieved by vacuum shaping.
B. If the hatch is curved inwards in two directions (or one direction) and this curvature extends out over the sealing zone at the sealing the following two different cases can be separated:
a. The side of the bathtub is at the sealing zone made to follow the curvature that the single or double curved hatch has in the sealing zone in particular in view of the initial seal of the bottom part of the hatch. The basic principle according to the Swedish Pat. No. 8400091-8 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,693) is also applicable to this case.
b. The hatch is simple or double curved out over the edge zone at the seal and the side of the bathtub lies at the sealing zone in a common flat plane. In this case a gap is established, see FIG. 3, extending from the front lower corner B of the hatch (see FIG. 3) through the corner points C, D, E to F. The gap has its maximum in the area at D in the shown embodiment. In this case it is initially required that this gap is eliminated, at least along the line BC. This can be achieved by applying a force on the inner side of the hatch at D and directed outwards. The area D lies in the close vicinity of the straight line between the points B and F. The force outwards can for instance be achieved by means of a handle (FIG. 4) having an axle extending through the side of the bathtub (rim, inverted U-shape) and which thus easily can be operated from in-as well as from outside the bathtub. The nob in the end of the handle is in direct contact with the inner surface of the hatch pushing this part of the hatch outwards. The axle of t
REFERENCES:
patent: D285346 (1986-08-01), Sween
patent: 1144576 (1915-06-01), Wilson
patent: 2570053 (1951-10-01), Fowler et al.
patent: 4202060 (1980-05-01), Touze
patent: 4583251 (1986-04-01), Karl et al.
patent: 4672693 (1987-06-01), Schenstrom
Recla Henry J.
Sholl Linda J.
LandOfFree
Sitting bathtub does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sitting bathtub, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sitting bathtub will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-169275