US2056849A

US2056849A - Bathtub safety device

Info

Publication number: US2056849A
Application number: US81312A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Gillett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-22
Filing date: 1936-05-22
Publication date: 1936-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1953-10-06

Description

0ct.'6, 1936 J. B. GILLETT & 3

' BATHTUB SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 22, 1936 nventor Attorneys Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE &056349 BATHTUB SAFETY DEVICE James B. Gillett, Marfa, Tex.

Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81,312

5 Clams.

My invention relates generally to means enabling a bather to enter and leave a bathtub safely and easily, and particularly to an arrangement' Suspended over the tub in a position to be grasped in the hands when stepping into or stepping out of or changing position while in the bathtub, and which may be disposed out of the way while bathing, and an important object of my invention is to provide simple, efficient, and inexpensive means of the character indicated whereby all persons, but especially infirm and inept persons may safely and easily enter and leave and move about in the bathtub.

Other important objects -of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a general transverse vertical sectional View taken through a bathroom and a bathtub, and showing the -device of the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Figure l approximately on the line 2-2 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Referrng in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional bathtub installed in a bathroom which is generally designated 6 and which has a ceiling or other elevated support 1, from which the device of the invention generally designated 8 is Suspended.

The device 8 consists of a suitable fixture or clamp 9 fastened to the ceiling 'I or other elevated support and suitably depending therefrom is a fiexible rope or cor-d l which will ordinarily depend in the dotted line position shown in Fgure 1 so as to have a position centrally over the tub and in a location to be easily grasped by the bather in entering or leaving the tub. While the device is not in use or while the bather is in the tub, the 'cord lil is engaged with a detent ll which is mounted as indicated by the numeral I2 to a suitable vertical support adjacent one side of the tub, such as the wall !3 of the bathroom.

The detent i l may suitably consist of a hook |4 on the mounting means |2 so arranged that the cord ID may be easily engaged and disengaged therefrom, but while engaged therewith be securely held in an out-of-the-way position, so as to prevent the cord from interfering with the bathing Operations, or becoming wet. A suitable hand-hold |5 may be Conveniently attache-d to the lower extremity of the cord I to enable more securely grasping the cord, and for ornamental purposes.

The cord or rope !E will preferably be soft in texture, suggested materials for the cord being soft cotton, or soft cord material, and the cord to have an approximate diameter of one inch. The material of the cord should be such that it will be easy on the hands for all persons even the most delicate lady, yet aflord sufficient grip and be strong enough for the purpose, so that there 10 would be no chance of the cords breaking while being depended upon for support by the bather. It is obvious that several different materials would serve the purpose of supplying a strong and soft textured cord.

It is obvious that a bather seated in the tub may easily and safely raise himself by grasping and pulling on the rope while it is in the dependent position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and that he may then easily and safely move in or step from the tub While still grasping the cord, and be constantly safely supported from slipping or falling in the tub or adjacent thereto.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to 2 be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In combination, a bathroom having an ele- Vated support and a side wall and a tub, a flexible dependent cord attached to the elevated support and normally depending in a position centrally over the tub, to be grasped by a bather and affording support while entering, leaving or moving about in the tub, and detent means on the said wall with which thecord is to be engaged while not in use for holding the cord out of the way during the bathing.

2. In combination, a bathroom having an elevated support and a side wall and a tub, a fiexible dependent cord attached to the elevated support and normally depending in a position centrally over the tub, to be grasped by a bather and affording support while entering, leaving or moving about in the tub, said cord being made of soft yielding material of adequate strength, so as to prevent injury to the hands of the bather.

3. A bathtub safety device adapted to facilitate entrance and exit comprising a exible occupant-used pendulous hanger, means for flexibly connecting said hanger at its upper end to a relatively fixed ceiling above the bathtub, and additional means designed for attachment to the Wall within the vicinity of thepbathtub to hold the lower end of said hanger to one side of the tub in an out-of-the-way position while bathing or While not in use.

4. In a safety bathtub accessory of the class described, a. fixture adapted to be Secured rgdly to a support above a bathtub, a fiexble element Secured at its upper end to said fixture, said element being of a length to permit its hanging down into a bathtub to permt it to be readily grasped While in a sitting position, and a complemental fixture adapted to be Secured to a fixed support within the Vicinity of the tub in a position to permit the free lower end of said fiexible element to be temporarily and detachably connected therewith in the manner and for the purposes described.

5. In combination, a bathtub, a fiexible dependent safety hanger element normally depending in a position over the tub to be Conveniently grasped by a bather and affording a support while entering, leaving, or moving about in the tub, a fixed. support over said tub to which said element is connected. at its upper end, and a wall fixture supported within the vcinity of one side of the tub. to permt the lower end of the fiexible element to be releasably engaged therewith while not in use.

JAMES B. GILLETT.