CA2195026A1

CA2195026A1 - The step in tubdoor system

Info

Publication number: CA2195026A1
Application number: CA 2195026
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ernest Henry Cornies; Walter Werner Cornies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-14
Filing date: 1997-01-14
Publication date: 1998-07-14

Abstract

The TUBDOOR consists of a panel door, with one or two panels, hinged to open freely into an empty tub to allow the user or caregiver to enter. The door is designed to close against a round rubber or vinyl seal to create a water proof closure. To provide pressure to the door against the seal an off-center cam locking wheel fits into a channel that is provided in the sill to accommodate this lock and a guide for the unhinged end of the door panel. This guide is a tumblerthat is inserted in the bottom of the door panel loosely and rides in the channel freely.
The locking device is held in a sleeve that is widened at the top to receive a spring and a collar that is attached to a shaft and a twist handle. This lifts the shaft and cam out of the channel when not in use. To seal the door a simple push down and twist provides enough pressure to seal the panel and provide a safety lock to prevent accidental opening. As the water is on the opposite side to the seal, any pressure generated by the water would assist in the sealing.
To contain any possible seepage that could occur, the sill of the door frame hasbeen fitted with a perforated drain channel leading to a seepage reservoir that is connected to the standard tub waste and overflow.
In a single panel door application the tumbler guide is eliminated and replaced by the twist cam lock at the non hinged end.

Description

SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a manually operable door to provide ~ccess to a bath t~b through the side wall.
It is co"l,nol- for persons wanting to use a bathtub to have to step over a wall of an awkward height prohibiting aged and handicappecl use without help or some type of device. In the TUBDOOR system one simply opens the door, steps into the tub, without any a-scist~rlce or any aid devices. Then easily closes the door and fills the tub for a leisurely bath, that was previously not available to them.
To open the door twist cam lock handle (~ia~, ~" 1 A) to loosen seal of the doo ~
and allow the spring to li~t it out of the guide channel. Push the center of the two panels causing the door to swing on the jamb hinge, a the same time folding the panels at the center hinge. As the door opens and folds the distance covered by the door diminishes causing the tumbler guide (diagram D) to slide toward the hinge on the jamb (diagram B). On completion of the fold the panels will be at the side of the opening allowing ~ccess to the tub.
To close the door pull the tumbler end of the panels away from the hinge causing the tumbler to slide in the guide channel (d;a~" dn, C) unfolding the door.
When the door is totally extended all the seals (diay~am D) will be in conta t with the jambs. At this point the twist cam lock is pushed down and twisted, tightening the seal and completing closure. The tub now can be filled with water.

Claims

"The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege isclaimed are defined as follows:"
In most situations seniors and handicapped persons find it difficult or impossible to get in or out of a standard bathtub. The step over the front of the bathtub is prohibitive without expensive or awkward aids. To facilitate easier access the TUBDOOR system provides a doorway with a low sill that can be easily traversed by the aged and borderline handicapped people. The door also provides easier access for disabled persons being assisted by professional caregivers.