Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Wash receptacles – With human body support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-20
2003-01-07
Huson, Gregory (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Wash receptacles
With human body support
C004S630000, C004S631000, C108S025000, C312S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06502254
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to countertops structured for accessibility to persons using wheelchairs and the like. In particular, a countertop for mounting a sink or basin is cantilevered so as to provide leg space under the countertop, and has one or more hand grips formed by a slot provided at a space from a free edge of the countertop, preferably running parallel to the front edge.
2. Prior Art
One or more basins or sinks are often mounted in countertops found in lavatories, kitchens and similar settings. Particularly in a lavatory or bathroom, such a combination of a sink and countertop is sometimes known as a “vanity.” The conventional structure of a sink installation of this type comprises a flanged basin that rests in an opening in a horizontal panel functioning as the countertop. The countertop is generally relatively thick, e.g., 2 to 4 cm., and can be made of stone (e.g., marble or granite) or simulated stone product, and can be solid or laminated. A variety of materials are available which can receive or be combined with attachable basins, integral basins, backsplashes, bull noses and other features.
Such a countertop is typically supported on a cabinet having walls or doors that extend vertically downward from a point flush with the lateral edge of the countertop or leaving only a slight overhang. This structure presents accessibility problems for wheelchair occupants.
A wheelchair user normally is disposed in an upright sitting posture. There is generally a forward right angle between the back and the thighs (femurs) and a downward right angle between the thighs and shins (tibias), with the result being that the user's knees are placed a substantial distance (e.g., 50 cm.) forward of the shoulders. If the user approaches the vanity directly from the front, the user's feet and/or knees abut the cabinet walls or doors of the vanity when the user's back and shoulders are at a distance from the front edge of the counter. Thus to reach the faucet or other controls, which often are at the back of the basin, the user must reach well forward past his or her knees, and over the front edge of the countertop. The alternative is to align the wheelchair to face parallel to the front edge of the counter. In that case the user must access the sink over one of the armrests of the wheelchair, which is awkward and uncomfortable.
It is known to improve the wheelchair accessibility of a sink or basin as described, by clearing a space under the countertop. This permits a wheelchair user to roll his/her lower extremities beyond and under the front edge of the countertop, bringing the basin and any faucets or similar controls more within reach when approaching directly from the front.
Examples of wheelchair accessible sink and vanity arrangements are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,852—Robinson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,404—Laughton and U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,871—Laughton, which are hereby incorporated for their teachings of wheelchair accessible structures in which the chair user rolls part way under the countertop. These references also employ faucets placed at the side rather than the rear of the sink. In Robinson, the space under the sink is cleared by rotating a cabinet structure clear of the space under the countertop. This can be accomplished using handrails that protrude from the structures under the countertop at strategic locations such as the rear side of a pivotable door structure.
Typically a wheelchair user who seeks to pull the front of the chair under a counter or to push away from a counter, simply grasps the front edge of the counter. Insofar as the typical counter structure contains a rail extending laterally along the front of the vanity, the rail is typically associated with a towel rack. Such a towel rack generally comprises a laterally extending rail that is turned 90 degrees toward the vanity at its ends, and affixed to a front facing surface of the vanity on escutcheons that are screwed or similarly attached to the vanity. The usual towel rack is only provided with sufficient structure to support the vertical weight of a wet towel, and is not meant to provide a hand hold for pulling upon or pushing against as a means to move a wheelchair relative to the vanity.
Elderly persons as well as persons using wheelchairs may find it difficult to pull themselves up to a sink or to support themselves adequately at the sink. Typically such persons grasp the edge of the sink. Alternatively, and perhaps more dangerously, such persons may attempt to grasp the faucet or the water control valves. These may be located relatively inaccessibly at the rear of the sink, or may be placed at the side. The faucet and valves, however, are not intended to be used as manual grasping points, and over time can become loosened, causing water leaks, or may break due to metal fatigue.
It would be advantageous if the known vanity structure could be improved to provide a more durable form of edge rail that is sufficiently robust to provide a push/pull grasping point against which a wheelchair user can exert a force to move the wheelchair relative to the vanity in a manner apt for bringing the user into manual reach of the basin and the controls, or permitting a smooth disengagement after use. Preferably, this is done without producing forward protrusions or other obstructions that the user can inadvertently rap with his knees or elbows or the like. According to the present invention, these objects are met in an arrangement that is very durable, attractive and easily cleaned. In particular, rails are formed integrally in the front edge of a countertop by forming a slot that is slightly wider than the user's fingers and is spaced from the front edge by a distance that causes the forward edge of the countertop to form a thick and durable rail that is readily grasped, or can function to hold a towel or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vanity work surface that is accessibly mounted to define an access space under a panel defining the work surface, wherein the panel has an accessible edge formed into a grab bar.
Inasmuch as the grab bar as described is an integral part of the panel structure, it is much more durably and intimately attached to the work surface panel than is possible using an attached structure. Furthermore, the grab bar of the invention does not form a protrusion and thus is not subject to uncomfortable impacts with body parts.
The integral grab bar panel preferably has a series of slot lengths separated by areas at which the work surface panel extends integrally to the edge of the panel. These slots can be generally evenly spaced around the available periphery of the panel, and used as desired by a particular user. In addition, one or more of the slots that subdivide the grab bar from the remainder of the panel, and the associated grab bar, can double as a towel bar.
The grab bar structure is readily formed in the same manner that outside edges are formed on the panel, for example by providing spaced bores joined by cuts made with a band saw or saber saw, and rounding over the associated edges. This provides and attractive and comfortably smooth arrangement that is applicable to solid panel materials, laminates or the like.
The invention is particularly applicable to a vanity arrangement for assisted living residences and residences for elderly persons. For this purpose, a bathroom sink or vanity product advantageously is integrated and standardized in one or a few variations that are applicable to various installations with minimal customization and cabinetry work. These variations can include customer choices and in any event should be attractive, functional and modest in cost. The vanity or sink product should make the facility optimally useful and accessible to typical residents, should be safe, and thus will promote the independence of the resident in performing bathroom activities.
More particularly, from the residents' standpoint, the product sh
Duane Morris LLP
Ewing Cole Cherry Brott, Inc.
Huson Gregory
Le Huyen
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