US2005576A

US2005576A - Bathtub safety grip

Info

Publication number: US2005576A
Application number: US728403A
Authority: US
Inventors: Buhl Oscar; Henry V Jacobus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-05-31
Filing date: 1934-05-31
Publication date: 1935-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1952-06-18

Description

June 18, 1935. O BUHL ET AL 2,005,576

BATHTUB SAFETY GRIP Filed May 31, 1954 192103 7512005 9 Qsmrfluhb Patented June 18, 19:55

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHTUB SAFETY GRIP Oscar Buhl and Henry V. J acobus, Bellcvllle, N. J.

Application May 31, 1934, Serial'No. 728,403

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bathtub safety grip and has'for an object to provide a hand rail or safety grip which will increase safetyi'for the bather entering or leaving the bathtub or while remaining in thebathtub and reducing the possibility of accidentally slipping or fallingof the bather. V

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved safety grip or hand railwhich extends above the top edges of the bathtub and which may be made'either as an integral part of the bathtub without however disturbingthe fundamental original design or may be made as an attachment to be secured to existing bathtubs.

With the foregoing and othergobjects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent,'this invention comprises the constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, hereinafter set forth, disclosed and shown on the accompanying drawing. In this drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the tub showing the hand grip integral with the same, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the hand grip bolted on to the tub.

There is shown at ID a bathtub which while of a built in type, may be of any conventional type. With bathtubs of this or any other type there is the ever present danger that the bather may slip and often seriously hurt himself either when entering or leaving the bathtub or while standing in the tub incidentally during the process of bathing. The bather usually instinctively grabs for the edge of the tub to steady himself and inasmuch as this edge is usually smooth porcelain and sometimes apt to be soapy and at least is wet, such action often serves merely to increase the danger of falling or slipping and thus increase the severity of the injury suffered by the bather. With this invention, however, such instinctive grabbing action at the edge of the bathtub results in affording a secure gripping means whereby the bather may quickly and easily steady himself and avoid injury. The gripping means constituting this invention includes a hand rail or grip III, which rises above the top edge [2 of the bathtub In, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

This rail or grip l l extends from adjacent one end [3 of the bathtub to the other end ll of the tub, the rail ll being supported by sloping portions l5 and I6 joining the top [2 of the bathtub and in the middle or in additional places if necessary and desirable by a brace l1. As will be observed the bottom of the rail II is serrated as at 18. These serrations [8 provide grooves 19 therebetween so that the fingers of the bather may enter these grooves l9 and be prevented from slipping along the railing l I by means of the serrations l8. A firm and secure grip is thereby provided. As will be observed, these serrations and grooves are present only on the bottom of the rail and not on the top of the rail, thereby making it possible to rest on the top of the rail in comfort and yet have a secure grip when desired.

It will be further noted that the rail, or grip l I is provided along the inner edge of each side of the bathtub l0 and likewise along the outer edge of the bathtub l0, thus afiording quick and easy facility for either entering,'leaving or standing in the bathtub. Furthermore, the rail ll extends above the usual top I! of the edge of the bathtub, thus allowing the bathtub to be of the usual size and hold the usual amount of water therein. These grips ll afford an additional facility for steadying ones self while reaching into the tub and cleaning the same preparatory to bathing.

In Figure 4 a hand rail or grip 20 is shown as being detachably secured by a bolt or set screw 2| to the top edge of a bathtub 22 of conventional construction. This hand rail or grip 20 is identical in construction with that shown at H being provided with the same serrations l8 and grooves I9 for the same purpose. A bathtub is a somewhat expensive article and this attachable hand rail or grip 20 may be quickly and easily attached to any existing bathtub after making suitable inserted openings in the edge thereof to receive the screw or stud bolt 2|.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed and that changes may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. In combination with a battub, a hand rail or grip secured to said bathtub along at least one edge thereof, said hand rail or grip extending above the top of the edge of the bathtub, said hand rail or grip having a smooth top surface and a serrated bottom surface affording finger gripping facilities, said hand rail or grip being an integral part of said tub.

2. For attachment in combination with a bathtub; a hand rail or grip adapted to be secured to the bathtub along at least one edge thereof, said hand rail or grip extending above the top of the edge of the bathtub, said hand rail or grip being of a diameter to be easily grasped by the average hand, the surface of the upper side of said hand rail or grip being smooth and continuous, and the under surface of said hand rail or grip being divided by a plurality of serrations into a plurality of grooves thereby affording finger gripping facilities, said hand rail or grip being adapted to be secured to the top edge of the bathtub adjacent each end of-the bathtub by gradually sloping portions.

3. In combination with a bathtub, a hand rail or grip secured to said bathtub along at least one edge thereof, said hand rail or grip extending above the top of the edge 01 the bathtub, said hand rail or grip being of a diameter to be easily grasped by the average hand, the surface of the upper side of said hand rail or grip being smooth and continuous, and the under surface of said hand rail or grip being divided by a plurality of serrations into a plurality of grooves thereby affording finger gripping facilities, said hand rail or grip being secured to the top edge of the bathtub adjacent each end of the bathtub by gradually sloping portions, and brace means attaching said hand rail or grip to said top edge of said bathtub intermediate its ends.

OSCAR BUHL.

HENRY V. JACOBUS.