US2045867A - Bathtub - Google Patents

Description

June 3o, 1936. l R, MUELLER' 2,045,867

BATHTUB Filed Julyl 23, 1954 Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES BATHTUB Robert Mueller, Decatur, Ill.

Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736.601

s claims. (ci. 1r-.173)

The present invention relates to bath tubs. It has for its object to provide a non-slip bath tub, and further, to give such a construction of the front wall or apron of the tub aswill permit the user to take a position outside of the tub for manipulating the faucets or bending-over the tub with greater ease than with tubs now in use.

In the drawing herewith I have illustrated my invention, and in said drawing:

-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a tub, showing my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional View through a portion of the bottom and end wall of the tub showing the waste outlet in elevation.

Referring to the drawing by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, II) indicates the tub proper, which may be of any desired material, the form of tub here shown being the usual metal enameled tub characterized by the usual side and end walls and the outer .apron Il.

'I'he Walls of the tub Aextend downwardly to they bottom, to which they are joined by the curved sections I2, said sections I2 forming an inwardly turned substantially horizontal rim or edge extending, as here shown, completely around the tub.

The tub bottom I3 is sunken, as shown, preferably from the edge of the bottom section I2 to form a substantial recess, as clearly shown in the drawing. In Figure 1 the recess in the bottom extends substantially the full length of the tub, being inset from and surrounded by the bottom section I2, forming a marginal oiset between the tub walls and the recess. It will be noted that the sunken section of the tub bottom isan integral portion offset from the plane of said bottom and is of substantially the same thickness as the remaining part thereof.

In this recess in the bottom I3, a lling I4 of non-slip, waterproof material, such, for example, as cement having an abrasive or adherent content to prevent slipping, is permanently secured and sealed so as to make a substantially integral structure with the tub, thisfilling I4 being preferably set so as to lie level with and form a continuation of the bottom section I2. Anti-slip tiles can, of course, be substituted for the cement nller, if desired.

Obviously, ornamental effects can be worked out in both the cement or tile, non-slip ller, to give pleasing designs.

As shown in Figure 2, the waste or drain outlet I5 will extend upwardly and be lixed in the bottom I3 in any suitable or usual manner, and preferably, as shown in Figures l and 2, the ller I4, mounted in the recess of the bottom I3,- will not extend as far as the waste or drain outlet I5, so that the waste or drain outlet can be secured to the bottom section I2 of the tub in the usual manner and without disturbing the filler.

This type of tub, with the permanently secured and sealed waterprbof filler, provides a completely sanitary job, as distinguished from those ar-` rangements which contemplate the use of a loose, removable, non-slip mat, beneath which drippings will collect and stand.

The arrangement is such that the job, when completed, becomes an integral tub structure which may be produced completely by the manufacturer and sold ready for installation, and it lends itself readily to decorative schemes and color combinations.

It will be observed that theV outer wall or apron I I of the tub stands substantially vertical, and since there is anappreciable distance between the inner and outer walls of the tub, one leaning over and using the tub must necessarily stand back a considerable distance in a rather 20 awkward position. To overcome this difliculty, I have inclined the lower portion I6 of the apron II inwardly through a portion of its length, so as to give a substantial recess, contiguous to the floor, and a person standing by the tub is enabled to stand closer, by reason of the vto'es of the vfeet extending into the recess formed by the inclined portion I6, and eliminate the awkward position ordinarily assumed where the apron II extends directly to the floor, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l. When a portion only of the apron is inclined inwardly, a more pleasing and nished eifect is given.

Such variations from the construction herein shown and described as are within the skill of a mechanic may, of course, be made without departing from the range of my invention.

1. A one-piece metal bath tub having an integral portion of its bottom oifs'et from the plane of the bottom and of substantially the same thickness to provide a recess, and a non-slip waterproof lling in said recess.

2. A bath tub having an apron extending in a substantially vertical plane, the lower portion of the apron being recessed inwardly and downwardly to the oor to provide a space of suicient area to accommodate a foot of a person leaning over the tub.

3. A bath tub having an apron extending in a substantially vertical plane, the lower portion of the apron having a longitudinally extending space formed therein for the reception of the feet of a person leaning over the tub, said space being formed by an inwardly and downwardly recessed portion of the apron having its lower edge resting on the oor.

ROBERT MUELLER.

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