US2011148A - Bathtub - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Application April.2, 1934, Serial No. 718,613

6 Claims.

This invention relates to bath tubs and more particularly to combination bath tubs for hotels and similar institutions where space is of the essence and an important requirement for compactness.

It contemplates more especially the provision of a combination bath tub and wash basin that utilizes less than the ordinary room required for the standard tub, thereby affording the ordinary bathroom facilities in minimum space requirements.

The customary bath tub is of such length as to comfortably accommodate an adult individual in an extended or at least inclined position'so as to enable substantially complete submersion for cleansing purposes. Then; too, ordinary bathroom facilities include a wash basin which is separate and independent of the tub, thereby requiring additional space to the end that bathrooms are quite sizeable. In hotels and apartment buildings located in large cities where space is of the essence and an important consideration, it is often desirable to reduce the bathroom space requirements to a minimum and still retain substantially the same accommodations that are available in bathrooms of ordinary or standard size.

This space saving feature has been taken into consideration in the provision of kitchen facilities, and as a result kitchenettes and even the less sizeable pullman kitchens have been introduced with a great deal of success in large apartment building enterprises. Compactness has not, however, been introduced in the bathroom and this is primarily due to the fact that the ordinary bathroom fixtures require a great deal of space both for their positioning aswell as to afiord access thereto with the necessary convenience to render such utilizable for cleansing purposes. A combination bathtub and wash basin has, therefore, been devolved to afford substantially the same cleansing conveniences as are now available in the standard size bathtub.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel combination tub and wash basin that substantially reduces the space requirements in bathrooms.

Another object is to provide a bath tub having a wash basin in combination therewith so that one or the other can be utilized without requiring any extra space.

Still another object is to provide a bath tub that aifords all the cleansing facilities of the standard tub and still utilizes appreciably less space.

A further object is to provide a bath tub having a well with a length insuflicient to accommodate a horizontally extended 'adult body and a depth suflicient to submerge a vertically extended adult body to above the waist line thereof.

A still further object is to provide a bath tub 5 having a well with a length insufficient to accommodate a horizontally extended adult body and a depth suflicient to submerge a vertically extended adult body to above the waist line thereof in conjunction with means for accommodating an adult 19 body in a seated posture.

Still afurther object is to provide a bath tub having a wash basin in combination therewith so that one or the other can be utilized without requiring any space additional to that ordinarily required for the tub.

An additional object is to provide a bath tub having a well insufiicient to accommodate a horizontally extended adult body in even a reclined position and a depth sufficient to submerge a vertically extended body to above the waist line thereof in combination with a wash basin for rendering one or I the other utilizable without requiring any space additional to that ordinarily required for the tub.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination tub and wash basin embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the combination tub and wash basin shown in Figure 1, the wash basin being removed from view so as to render the tub accessible for bathing purposes.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line III--III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IVIV of Figure 3. 40

The structure selected for illustration *comprises a tub l0 substantially of rectangular cross v section having a well I I with a length insuflicient to accommodate an extended adult body in a horizontal or reclining position, it being preferable that the length thereof should not exceed forty' inches, greater or less, depending upon dictates of commercial practice and the requirements for space economy in any particular building enterprise. The tub with its well I I may be cast or otherwise shaped from metallic material and have the exposed exterior and interior surface thereof covered with a white or colored enamel so as to render such "attractive and sanitary in every possible respect in much the same way as standard tubs are treated for that purpose.

The width of the well If is such as to accommodate an adult body of average size along the same dimensional lines and in that respect will approximate the Width of standard tubs. The tub II has a depth substantially greater than those of standard tubs so that an adult body can be vertically accommodated and submerged to above the waist line thereof for enabling substantially complete cleansing in a manner that approximates the ordinary horizontal or reclining position of an adult body in a standard tub. This feature enables the length of the tub H to be reduced-to the minimum, and preferably a seat I2 is formed in conjunction with the well so that an adult body can be accommodated in a seated posture to enable free movement for cleansing every part of the anatomy as wellas for affording rest during the bath.

The seat |2 will approximate the height of an ordinary or standard chair or perhaps somewhat lower depending upon the preference or dictates of commercial practice. is preferably cast in conjunction with the formation of the well and may constitute an integral part thereof so as to be formed of the same material and coated with enamel in much the same way as the exterior and interior surfaces of the tub I This arrangement will afford a space or chamber |3 beneath the seat |2 so as to accommodate a stool or chair I4 which may be confined therein and, rendered accessible through a door or swinging closure l5 mounted, in this instance, on the front wall of the tub I0,

Hinges l6 serve to mount the closure 5 in the customary swinging manner and a knob serves to enable the manipulation of the closure l5 as well as control a latch that serves to retain it against accidental opening. Inasmuch as the tub It] has a height greater than that of standard tubs and the fact that an adult individual would find it inconvenient to step over the top edge I8 thereof, the stool l4 can heremoved from its chamber I4 and ultilized for assisting access to the interior of the well I.

The usual drain pipe i9 is provided along the bottom 29 of the well proximate the end wall 2| thereof so as to enable the draining of the water therefrom in the customary manner. Hot and cold water supply valves 22 and 23 are mounted on pipes 24 and 25 preferably extending exteriorly of the tub l0 beyond the end wall 2| thereof so as to communicate with a spigot 26 which serves to conduct or direct the flow of hot and/or cold water into the well II for the usual purpose and in the customary manner. The spigot 26 is rotatably mounted relative to its hot and cold water mixing housing 21 so that it can be displaced from above the well-|| as may berequired for a purpose that will appear more fully hereinafter.

In order to render the tub utilizable as a wash basin when not desired for use as a bath tub, a wash basin 28 is stamped or otherwise shaped from metallic material to define the usual cleansing well 29 which terminates in a peripheral flange 30 shaped to corresponding with-and serve as a complement of the top tub periphery l8. In consequence thereof, the wash basin 29 is supported by the top tub periphery mm as to close the well I! and enable the spigot 26 to be displaced above the wash basin well 29 so as to furnish a supply of hot and/or cold water thereto.

A drain 3| is provided in the wash basin well The seat i2 29 so as to terminate in a pipe 32 preferably though not essentially having a packing-33 in conjunction therewith so as to cooperate with an overflow drain spout 34 provided in conjunction with the tub wall 2| so as to limit the level of the water in the tub well H to preclude overflow. It is to be noted that the overflow spout 34 communicates with a pipe 35 which is connected to the drain l9 so as to lead to a common disposal sewer in connection with the pipe extension 35'. The overflow spout 34 also serves as a drain for the wash basin well 29 when in its operative position in resting engagement with the tub periphery I8. It is apparent, therefore, that the spigot 26 serves both the tub well I and the wash basin well 29 depending upon which is desired for cleansing use.

The wash basin well 29 is also provided with a slot or aperture 36 proximate to the top surface thereof so as to serve as an overflow drain to conduct the water to the drain spout 34 or preferably deposit such in the well H for disposal through the tub drain l9, thereby precluding an overflow and limiting the maximum level of the water therein. In order to conveniently enable the removal of the wash basin 28 from the tub periphery l8 so that the tub well II will be accessible for body bathing purposes, the wash basin 28 is provided with a rearwardly directed extension 31 having depending lugs 38 positioned behind the room wall 39 in a chamber 4|) defined by an enclosure rendered accessible through a cabinet door 4|.

The cabinet door 4| is mounted on hinges 42 relative to its frame 43 which is built around the wall chamber 40. A mirror 44 is preferably mounted in the closure 4| which has a knob 45 and a connecting latch (not shown) for retaining the door or closure 4| closed against accidental opening. It is to be noted that the wall chamber closure 4| swings about the hinges 42 above the tub periphery |8 so that the wash basin 28 may be displaced to the wall chamber 40. the wash basin lugs 38 are pivotally connected to brackets 46 having bosses 41 thereon to cooperate with the wash basin lugs 38 for pivotal connection by means of a pintle 49. Two or more of such wash basin lugs 38 may be provided to engage a similar number of brackets 46 which have a rearwardly extending ledge 50 to support the wash basin 28 on edge in its vertical confinement within the wall chamber 40 (Figure 3).

The pivotal point of connection 49 between the wash basin lugs 38 and brackets 46 are such that the center of gravity is forward of the vertical position of the wash basin' 28, thereby precluding its accidental displacement over the tub well II to possibly injure an individual confined therein for bathing purposes. Any suitable latch may be provided, if necessary, to insure against the accidental displacement of the wash basin 28 from the wall chamber 40 outwardly and over the tub well since such would create serious injury to the tub ID, the wash basin 28 and any individual who may be in the path thereof. With this arrangement, the wash basin 28 may be conveniently di placed for concealment within the wall chamber 40 so that the tub l0 may be utilized for its intended purpose. Also, the wash basin 28 may be conveniently displaced over the tub well H without requiring any appreciable exertion and to this end is built as lightly as possible so as to avoid any burdensome weight.

With this arrangement of parts and features above described, it is apparent that a very com- To this end,

pact combination tub and wash basin has been provided to the end that a bathroom may be of very minute size and the space requirements reduced to minimum without sacrificing any bathroom conveniences. Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A bath tub having a well with a length insuflicient to accommodate a horizontally extended adult body and a depth suflicient to submerge a vertically extended adult body to above the waist thereof, aseat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture for cleansing convenience, a wash basin movably associated with the top of said well to constitute a closure for said well when in operative use in combination therewith, a cabinet in a walladjacent said well for receiving said wash basin when displaced to its inoperative position from said well, a closure for said cabinet to conceal said wash basin in its inoperative position, and means. for guiding the displacement of said wash basin between said tub well and wall cabinet.

2. A bath tub having a well with a length insuflicient to accommodate a horizontally extended adult body and a depth sufficient to submerge a vertically extended adult body to above the waist thereof, a seat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture for cleansing convenience, a wash basin movably associated with the top of said well to constitute a closure therefor when in operative use in combination therewith, there being separate drains for said well and wash basin so that water discharge may be eifected independently of each other, hot and cold water supply control means for either said well orwash basin, and a wall cabinet disposed proximate to said tub well for receiving said wash basin when displaced from its operative position relative to said well.

3. A bath tub having a well with a length insufllcient to accommodate a horizontally extended adult body and a depth suflioient to submerge a vertically extended adult body to above the waist thereof, a seat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture for cleansing convenience, a wash basin pivotally associated with the top of said well to constitute a closure .therefor when in operative use in combination therewith, there being a drain for said well and wash basin so that water discharge may be efiected independently of each other, and hot and cold water supply control means for either said well or wash basin.

4. A bath tub having a well, a seat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture effecting submergence to above a waist line level for cleansing convenience, a wash basin mov-' ably associated with .the top of said well to constitute a closure therefor when in operative use in combination therewith, means for supplying water to said well or wash basin, and independent drain means for said well and wash basin.

5. A bath tub having a well, a seat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture for cleansing convenience, a wash basin movably associated with the top of said well to constitute a closure therefor when in operative use in combination therewith, and a cabinet in a wall adjacent said well for receiving said wash basin when displaced to its inoperative position from said well, said tub well and wash basin having independent drains for discharge of the contents from the latter without reception into the former.

6. A bath tub having a well, a seat in said tub for accommodating an adult body in a seated posture for cleansing convenience, a wash basin movably associated with the top of said well to constitute a closure therefor when in operative use in combination therewith, a cabinet in a well adjacent said well for receiving said wash basin when displaced to its inoperative position from said well, a closure for saidcabinet to conceal said wash basin in its inoperative position, and means for mounting said wash basin for enabling and guiding the displacement thereof betweensaid tub and cabinet.

WILLIAM HOEHN. 45

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