US20160037972A1

US20160037972A1 - Shower step

Info

Publication number: US20160037972A1
Application number: US14/770,077
Authority: US
Inventors: Leanne Therese Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-22
Filing date: 2014-02-21
Publication date: 2016-02-11
Also published as: AU2013205085A1; WO2014127424A1

Abstract

A step comprising a single leg with a platform attached at an obtuse angle that can be leant against the corner of a shower to provide an elevated platform to help with shaving legs or other activities in the shower. The side of the platform and foot of the leg are adapted to frictionally engage the shower wall and floor to resist slipping of the step.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a step for use in a shower cubicle or other similar location to position a person's leg at a convenient height for an activity such as shaving.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is common for people to shave their legs whilst having a shower. Whilst a shower cubicle is a convenient location to shave ones leg, it is not an easy location in which to do so. To reach the extremities of one's legs requires either bending over or squatting. Both of these can be difficult due to the often small size of a shower cubicle or can be physically challenging for the aged, infirmed or anyone past their physical prime. Such difficulties can easily lead to slipping or falling.
Of course, there may be other reasons that require a person to reach their foot or a lower part of their leg including general washing, for example washing between toes, or wound care where a wound or surgical treatment requires care or attention whilst bathing.
In yet another embodiment, the platform includes a relatively large aperture located proximal to an edge of the platform, the size of the aperture being sufficient to accommodate the shaft of a razor thereby allowing the razor to be stored when not in use.
Apart from the physical difficulties associated with reaching the lower of the lower portion of one's leg in a cramped environment, reaching down to one's leg can also expose one's hair to the shower water. This is often undesirable, particularly for people who have had their hair styled.
The object of this invention is to provide a step that alleviates the above problems, or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides a step comprising a leg with a foot at a first end and a platform at a second end, wherein the platform comprises sides, some of which are adapted to frictionally engage a surface.
In one embodiment the platform sides include a resilient material and are disposed substantially perpendicular to each other.
In a further embodiment the nominal axis of the leg and the nominal plane of the platform are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other.
In another embodiment, the platform includes a plurality of apertures that extend fully through the platform thus allowing the passage of water and other fluids to pass through the apertures.
It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the step of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a step being used to support a leg for shaving.

FIGS. 4-9 detail various alternative embodiments of the invention.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

10 step
20 leg
30 foot
40 platform
41, 42 straight sides
43 arcuate side
44 curved corner
46 shaver hole
48 drainage/grip holes

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.
In an embodiment the invention is a step comprising a leg with a platform attached that can be leant into the corner of a shower cubicle. The sides of the platform and the foot of the leg frictionally engage the shower cubicle surfaces so that the step doesn't slip. The step provides an elevated resting position for a foot, thereby making it easy to shave legs in a shower or perform other activities such as general washing or applying moisturizer. FIG. 3 shows a step 10 in use for shaving.
An embodiment of the step 10 of the invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 1 and side view in FIG. 2. The step 10 comprises a leg 20 with a foot 30 at a first end and a platform 40 at a second end. Preferably the leg 20 and platform 40 are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other.
The leg 20 is arcuate in cross section to provide rigidity. At a first end the arc is approximately 180 degrees to provide rigid attachment to the foot 30. At a second end the arc flattens out to form an edge of the platform 40. The leg is of a length such that the platform is held approximately 400 mm from the ground as this has been found to be an ergonomically suitable height to help with shaving.
The platform 40 is in the shape of a wedge with first and second straight sides 41, 42 and an arcuate side 43. The first and second sides 41, 42 are disposed perpendicular to each other to conform to adjacent walls of a shower alcove meeting at right angles. The corner 44 between the first and second sides is curved to allow the step to fit into corners that are not square such as those found in molded shower alcoves.
In further embodiments the platform may be of a different shape to a wedge. A wedge is optimal as it provides two large edges to contact the wall. Other shapes will also be able to frictionally engage the wall, but may be less effective.
The platform 40 further includes a hole 46 which can be conveniently used to hold a shaver and holes 48 which act as both drainage holes and provide grip to a foot resting upon the step.
To prevent the step from slipping the portions of the step that come in contact with the shower are adapted to frictionally engage the shower surfaces. This could be achieved by many means. A resilient material such as rubber is suitable as it conforms to the surface in contact and provides a large contact area. The first and second sides 41, 42 of the step 10 include resilient material or have a resilient coating. Likewise the foot 30 is formed from or coated in a resilient material.
The sides 41 and 42 are curved to allow the step to be leant at various angles and still provide a significant area of engagement of the resilient edge against the shower wall to prevent slipping. Similarly the bottom of the foot 30 is also curved. The curved foot 30 also helps cater for the angled surface of the floor in a shower cubicle that is angled to assist drainage.
The obtuse angle between the leg 20 and platform 40 allows the foot 30 to be displaced further from the shower walls than the platform 30. Pressure applied to the platform is distributed to the foot 30 as well as to the first and second sides 41, 42 of the platform. As all these points of contact have resilient edges and the distributed pressure tends to compress the resilient edges thus increasing the contact area and resultant frictional engagement thereby assisting to keep the step in place.
In a further embodiment, the foot 30 is in the form of a suction cup to reduce the chance of the step from slipping.
Preferably the step is molded as a single piece of plastic with an over-mold for the resilient foot and platform sides.
The step can be implemented in different forms and still maintain the essence of the invention. Examples of possible alternative embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 4 to 9. The embodiment of FIG. 9 incorporates two legs.
Further advantages and improvements may be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
In the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprising” is used in the sense of “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A step comprising a leg with a foot at a first end and a platform at a second end, wherein the platform comprises sides, adapted to frictionally engage a surface.

2. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform sides comprise a resilient material.

3. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform sides include two sides disposed substantially perpendicular to each other.

4. A step according to claim 1, wherein the leg and the platform are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other.

5. A step according to claim 1, wherein the leg is arcuate in cross section.

6. A step according to claim 5, wherein the lower portion of the leg has a cross section with an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

7. A step according to claim 5, wherein the upper portion of the leg comprises an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

8. A step according to claim 5, wherein the cross section of the leg comprises an arc of less than 180 degrees.

9. A step according to claim 1, wherein the foot includes a resilient material to frictionally engage the floor surface.

10. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a plurality of apertures that allow drainage of fluids through the platform.

11. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes an aperture of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the shaft of a razor thereby providing a storage location for the razor.

12. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform resides approximately 400 mm from the floor when the step is in use.

13. A step according to claim 1, wherein the platform is substantially wedge shaped and the straight edges of the wedge are substantially perpendicular to engage the walls in the corner of a shower cubicle.

14. A step according to claim 2, wherein the resilient material is sufficiently malleable such that upon the application of pressure, the resilient material deforms and increases the surface area contact with the surface with which the resilient material frictionally engages thus increasing the frictional engagement therewith.

15. (canceled)