US2131214A

US2131214A - Grab rail and seat attachment for bathtubs

Info

Publication number: US2131214A
Application number: US193199A
Authority: US
Inventors: George B Bentz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-02-28
Filing date: 1938-02-28
Publication date: 1938-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1955-09-27

Description

Sept. 27, 1938.

G. B BENTZ GRAB RAIL AND SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUB S Filed Feb. 28, 1938 s Shegts-Shet 1 Fig.1

29 Fig.2..

L 3 HLHHHHHIHIII NIT/v E 88 smwmig Sept. 27, 1938. G. B. BENTZ GRAB RAIL AND SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /& 575 gwuc/n'fo'n Gealye ,5. .Benh I Sept. 27, 1938. G B, EN Z 2,131,214

GRAB RAIL AND SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L 1mm 1 08.10. 0/? s ,c

WITNESS dearyefi. 56127? Patented Sept. 27, 1938 PATE T Q GRABURAIL-AND SEAT'ATTAbHMENT FOR BAT'HTUBS George B. Bentz, New York, N. Y. Application February 28, 1938, Serial No. 193,199

S'Clai'ms. (01. 155-53625) The invention aims to provide a novel bathtub attachment embodying both a seat to overlie the tub side wall, and a grab rail to assist when entering and leaving the tub.

6 In carrying out the above end, a further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive, yet an efficient and reliable clamping means for efiectively clamping the attachment to the tub side wall.

Another object is to provide unique means for rotatably mounting the seat if desired.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomfiiplished by reference to the accompanying .drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the invention upon the side wall of a bathtub.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through 313116 tub wall and one of the vertically adjustable clamp members, the rest of the invention being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the vertically adjustable clamp members and the bolt and wing nut associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the construction Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing a rotatable,

seat which may be used if desired, in connection with any form of the invention abovedescribed.

Fig. 13 is a disassembled perspective view show-,

.ing the preferred manner of rotatably mounting the seat.

In Figs. 1 to 4, two arched clamps I2 are provided disposed in spaced parallel planes and rigidly connected by a grab rail I3. The upper portions of the clamps I3 support a seat I4 which may either be of fixed or non-rotatable type.

Each clamp I2 comprises a crown portion I5 to extend over the tub side wall, an inner vertically elongated leg I6 rigidly joined to one end of the crown portion I5, and an outer vertically elongated leg I! rigidly joined to the other end of said crown portion, said legs I6 and I! being pref' erably integralwith said crown portion I5. The grab rail I3 is rigidly connected at its ends with the lower ends of the inner legs I6. of the two clamps I2, said ends of said grab rail being pref-' walled tub. The legs I6 of theclamp members .1

I2, however, are provided with adjustable clamp members 2|, and a description of one of these clamp members will sufiice for both.

The clamp member 2| comprises a vertical plate 22 disposed at the side of'the leg I6 toward the tub side wall, and parallel vertical flanges.

23 integral with or otherwise joined to said plate 22 and slidablystraddling said leg I6, said flanges: 23 being provided with elongated slots 24 which diverge upwardly with respect to said leg. I6. In the present disclosure, a clamping bolt 25 passes through the leg I6 and through the slots 24 and the portions of said bolt which projectv beyond said leg, cooperate with the slot walls to wedge the clamping member 2| toclamping position when said clamping member is lowered with respect to said leg. Preferably a wing .nut 26 is provided on one end of the bolt 25 and the bolt head is provided with diametrical ribs or the like 28 receivable in one of the slots 24 to hold.

said bolt against rotation when turning said nut.

By loosening the nut 26 and downwardly forcingthe clamp member 2 I, the clamp I2 may be tightly engaged with the tub side wall. Then by tightenj ing the nut 26, the flanges 23 are inwardly moved into tight frictional engagement with the leg I6 to hold said clampmember in operative position. If desired, a screw 29 may be carried by the clamp member 2| to abut the lower end of the leg I6 for forcibly sliding said member 2| downwardly. In the present showing, the screw 29 is threaded upwardly through a bottom flange 3|] which extends between the lower ends of the side flanges 23. Preferably, the plate 22 is provided with a covering 3| of rubber or the like to prevent injury of the tub wall.

To facilitate lifting and release of the clamp member 2| when the attachment is to be removed from the tub, I have shown a handle 32 on one of the flanges 23 but the use of such a handle is, of course, optional.

oFF1cEQ- In Figs. 6 and 7, two clamps l2 support a stationary or rotatable seat I4 and the inner legs l6 of these clamps are integrally connected by means of a grab rail 13*. The outer legs I'I of the clamps ll are each provided with an integral horizontal extension 33 to underlie the rolled rim 34 of an older type of bathtub, said extension 33 having an upstanding lug or the like 35 which assists in providing a seat 36 for the lower edge of said rim. :Ahorizontally swingable arm 31 is connected with the extension 33 by a clamp bolt or the like 38, said arm 31 being provided with a clamp member 39 to abut the outer side of the tub wall. An adjustable clamp member 21 which may be considered as identical with the member 2|, is carried by the leg I6 to; abut the inner side of the tub wall.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the two clamp members I2 which support the seat I4 include inner legs 5 integrally connected by the grab rail l3 andouter legs ll for dispositionat the outer side. of the rolledrim 34 Horizontally swingable arms 3! areprovided to extend under the rim 34, said arms being provided with bearings 2& 38 rotatableupon the lower ends of the legs ll H integralwith their crown portions l5,'and with outer legs l? also integral with said crown portionsi l5, and the laterally turned ends l8 of the grab rail l3 are integral with the lower ends OffSfiid legs IB The crown portions l5 are provided with rubber buttons or the like l9 to rest on the. tub side wall, the other legs I! are provided with similar buttons or the like 20, and adjustable screws 2| are threaded through the legs Hi to abut the inner side of the tub Wall.

When the seat l4, M l4 'or I4 is to be of fixed nature, it may be secured upon the crown portions of the clamps in any suitable way, for instance, by ordinary screws, bolts or the like, or by short straps such as those shown at 40 in Figs. 10 and 11.

lower'plate 4| (see Figs. 12 and 13) is secured in anysuitable way upon the crown portions of the two clamps and the seat is formed by another plate, the two plates being connected by a central pivot 42. A spider 43 is interposed between the two plates, is rotatable on the pivot 42, and is provided with rings 44 which receive bearing balls 45, said balls contacting with the two plates and thus anti-frictionally supporting the seat for rotation, to aid in entering and leaving the tub. Handles 43 are preferably provided on the rotatable seat enabling the user to steady himself while swinging his legs over the tub wall, with- When the seat is to be .of rotatable type, a

"'tu'b wall, and an outer leg rigidly joined to the other endof said crown portion to lie at the outer side of said tub wall; a hand rail extending between the inner legs of the two clamps and rigidly joined thereto, and a seat mounted upon the crown portions of the two clamps.

2. A bathtub attachment comprising two spaced arched clamps to straddle a bathtub side wall,

I eachiof saidgclamps comprising a crown portion to.:extend over the tub wall, an inner vertically elongated leg integrally joined to one end of said crown portion to lie at the inner side of said tub wall, and an outer leg integrally joined to the other end of said crown portion to lie at the outer.

side of 'said tub wall; a one-piece grab rail extending between the inner legs of said clamps and having its ends integrally joined thereto, and

a seat mounted upon the crown portions of the two clamps.

3. In a bathtub attachment, a clamp to engage the upper portion of a tub side wall, said clamp having a leg for disposition at one side of said wall, a clamp member slidably engaging said leg, said clamp member having a vertical plate at the inner side of said leg and parallel vertical flanges straddling said leg and secured to said plate, said flanges having slots which diverge upwardly with respect to said .plate, and projecting means on said leg received in said slots for coaction with said slots to wedge said clamp member to clamping position when said clamp member is slid downwardly on said leg.

4; In a bathtub attachment, a clamp to engagethe upper portion of a tub side wall, said clamp having a leg for disposition at one side of said wall, a clamp member slidably engaging said leg, said clamp member having a vertical plate at the inner side of said leg and parallel vertical flanges straddling said leg and secured to said plate, said flanges having slots. which diverge upwardly. with respect to said plate, and a clamping bolt passing through said leg and through said slots, said bolt and slots being cooperable when said bolt is loosened, to wedge said clamp member to clamping position when said clamp member is slid downwardly. 55. A structure-as specified in claim 3, together with a bottom flange connecting the lower ends ofsaid vertical flangesand underlying said leg, and a screw threaded upwardly through said bottom flange and abutting the lower end of said leg for sliding said clamp member downwardly and holding it.

GEORGE B. BENTZ.