US2611135A - Combination shower stool and drain fitting - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1952 B. N. GREENE 1,

COMBINATION SHOWER STOOL AND DRAIN FITTING Filed July 27, 1950 i x; L

INVENTOR.

views.

Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION SHOWER STOOL AND DRAIN FITTING I Benjamin N. Greene, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application July 27, 1950, Serial No. 176,133

9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to bathroom fixtures and more particularly to a combination shower stool and drain fitting, an object of the invention being to make a stall or cabinet shower adaptable not only for taking an all-over shower but for foot bathing also, and to permit the bather being seated at the time.

In the accomplishment of my invention a stool supporting means is housed Within the drain as an adjunct thereto, a further object being the provision of such a supporting means with a standard type of drain fitting without the necessity of in any way altering the fitting or its connections other than providing a tube receiving socket on the drains removable cover plate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible stool which, when not in use, may be hung in an out of the way but conveniently accessible place, as on a hook in the shower wall. q

Although intended primarily as a stool for stall showers, the'invention may also be used in bathtubes thus providing means whereby foot bathing is made more easy and safer, especially for elderly and infirm persons. When equipping a bathtub, or a combination tub and shower, for use with the present invention, the relative positions of the drain and faucets would be such that free manipulation of the faucets could be had by a person seated on the stoolr To these ends the invention consists of a stool and means'for removably supporting it as will be fully set forth in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The drawings disclosing the invention are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that various changes in structural details may be made .without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows the stool in positionlfor use, the view being an elevation with parts of the stool and its support seen in vertical central section.

Fig. 2 shows, in side elevation, the stool as collapsed and suspended from a hook against a wall.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the different Numeral I indicates a surface to be drained of water, such as the fioor of a shower or the bottom of a bathtub. This surface is formed with an opening 2. surrounded by a slightly depressed annular flange 3 which supports a standa ime face substantially flush with the surface I.

- terminating in a downwardly extending tubular portion 8 into which is-threadedthe usual drain pipe 9.. Resting on the shoulder 6 within the flange I and secured in place by screws I is a cover plate II having a central opening I2 and,

in the area surrounding such opening, a plurality of slot openings I3 through which water drains into the fixture 4 and thence to pipe 9.

Housed within the fixture 4 is a stool supporting member I4 formed to slidably receive the lower end of a vertically arranged tube I5 comprising the post or standard of a stool and which at its upper end carries a seat I6. This member I4 may, if desired, form an integral part of the body portion of the drain fixture. It'is preferable, however, in employing a standard fixture, not'to make any changes oradditions other than to the cover plate II which, in theillustrated embodiment of thejinve'ntion, is shown as the part of the fixture carrying the member I4. Plate II is therefore made sturdy and of sufliciently heavy stock for the purpose intended and with the parts of member, I4 formed integrally therewith in any suitable manner as by welding or brazing.

In this instance the member comprises two tubes forming sleeve IT and I8 concentrically arranged and in axial alignment with the central i. opening I2 of plate II, the tubes being of such diameter throughout their length as to provide an annular channel I9 co-extensive therewith and adapted to-slidably receive the wall of tubular' post I5. Sleeve I! at its top is integral with the under face of plate II. The sleeves I1 and I8 at their lower ends are connected by a closure 20 which forms a bottom for channel I9 and support for the post I5, the top of the inner sleeve I8 having a closure 2| preferably flush with plate II. Any water entering channel I9 will escape through lateral openings 22 in the outer sleeve II.

It is preferable that the stool be made collapsible so that, when not in use, it will occupy but a minimum amount of space and in which condition it will be readily accessible, but in an out of the way place such as being suspended from a hook 23, see Fig. 2, against awall 24 adjacent the shower or bathtub with which the stool is used.

While any suitable form of hinge connection between the post I5 and seat l6 may be employed, that illustrated in the drawing comprises a plate 25 secured by screws 26 to the underside of the seat. At right angles to this plate is a short tubular extension 21 adapted, when the seat is in position for use, to slidably fit within the upper end of post [5 and, with the seat in folded position, to lie transversely on the end of the post. Astride this extension 21, and struck from the plate 25, are arms 28, 28, to each of which at 29 is pivotally connected the upper offset portion of a respective side arm 30 extending upwardfrom a crossbar 3| slidably fitted in diametrically opposed slots 32 in the post 15. Swinging the seat on its pivotal connections from the position shown in Fig. 2, about an angle of 90, to that shown in Fig. 1, the extension 21 will be aligned with post l5. Then, by exerting downward pressure on the seat there will be a telescoping of the parts I5 and 21 with the seat firmly held against displacement. r

From the foregoing; it will be observed that a stool has been provided-for .a very unique and useful purpose, and that by a simple addition to a drain fitting there has also been provided a distinctly novel andpractical means for removably supporting the stool.

What I claim is: V I

1. A cover plate fora drainfixture, said plate having a central opening and drainapertures in the area surroundingsai-d' openin two concentric cylindrical members in axial alignment with said plate opening and of such diameters as to provide an annular channel; between them opening at the top into. said. plate opening, at least the outer one of said cylindrical members being tubular and formed integrally with said plate, and a closure for the bottom 'of' said-channel. formed integrally with both; said cylindrical members, said channel being ,providedwith a. discharge opening. j'

2. A cover late fora drain fixture,s'aidplate. having a. central openin and drainjapertnres in the area surrounding said, opening, two, concentric cylindrical tubes axialfalignment with said. opening and having'fanfannular spa'cebetween them opening at the topinto. said plateopening,

the outer one ofsaid tubes being attached to said plate, a closure for the top orth'e inner-one of. said tubes, and a closure iorfthecbottom of said annular space, such closure forming a connection, between said tubes.

3. A drain fixture/comprising two members, one including an internally threaded annular portion and an upwardly opening body portion inclined outwardly from .said annularportion and the other comprising a perforat d cover plate fitted to said body portion, and a projection formed integrally with. one ofsaid members and et said tubes.

8; The combination, with a surface to be drained and having a drain opening, of a fixture seated in said opening, a stool comprising a post extending upward from said fixture and a seat on said post, and post receiving means housed within said fixture for removably supporting said stool.

'7. The combination with a surface to be drained, and havingadrain opening, of a fixture seated in said opening, a stool comprising a tubular post extending upward axially of said drain fixture and a seat on said post, and stool supporting means housed; within said fixture, said means providing an upwardlyopening and bottom closed annular channel for slidably receiving said post,

7 said channel ha ng ail-outlet to the drain.

8. A combination in'accordance with claim '7 but characterized'by said drain fixture including two parts, viz., a body portion and a, removable perforatedcover plate, and by said stool supportingmeans being formed integrally with said cover plate. 1

9.v A combination in accordance with claim 7 but characterized by said stool including a hinge connection between said post and said seat, and means on said cover cooperating with said tubular post to lock the seat against displacement when the seat. is in position for use.

'- BENJAMIN N. GREENE.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file. of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany 1 Sept. 23, 1916

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