US2788055A

US2788055A - Baby bath tub safety device

Info

Publication number: US2788055A
Application number: US374059A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tumas John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-08-13
Filing date: 1953-08-13
Publication date: 1957-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-09

Description

April 9, S

BABY BATH TUB SAFETY DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Z fi ,2 A

' Ap 9, 1957 J TUMAS 2,788,055

BABY BATH TUB SAFETY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

April 9, 1957 TUMAS 2,788,055

BABY BATH TUB SAFETY DEVICE Filed Au 1s, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

April 9, 1957 Tums 2,788,055

BABY BATH TUB SAFETY DEVICE Filed Aug. 13, 1953 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 INVENTOR.

A RNEY United States Patent BABY BATH TUB SAFETY DEVICE John Tumas, Marshall, Mich.

Application August 13, 1953, Serial No. 374,059

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-365) This invention relates to a bath tub safety device.

The object of my invention is to provide a safety device, especially adapted for infants bathing, where a baby may be placed within a partially filled tub, without any danger of falling or injury. Another object is to provide a safety device for infants for playing in shallow water when left alone, or easily swung to a position outside the tub when desired.

A further object is to provide a bath tub safety device,

for adults, especially designed and adapted for a hand safety bar for entering, or leaving, the tub without danger of slipping, or falling. A still further object is to provide a tub safety device that'rnay be easily adjusted to various positions, either within or without the tub walls, or easily removed from the tub supports when desired.

r it

The bath tub W illustrates any standard form of tub as is normally installed Within the house bath room floor X and side walls Y and Z.

The bearing support A is preferably formed of a short tubular section 1, and is rigidly mounted in a vertical position within a suitable circular floor flange unit 2. The

floor flange 2 is securely attached to the bath room floor X, positioned adjacent the tub side wall, by suitable floor screws 3, and preferably positioned near the tub outlet end unit y (or at any other desired position). The tubular bearing support is extended to a position near the tub top edge, and may be securely attached thereto, by any suitable means, such as a band clamp unit 4 attachable to the tub walls by means of suitable screws, or toggle bolt units as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, or by any other suitable clamping means as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, or by wall brace as shown in Fig. 9. Near the base of the tubular section 1 is mounted a fixed lock pin 6, positioned horizontally across the tube. A spring lock and release latch 7 is mounted on the hearing support tube side, preferably positioned slightly above the lock pin 6, said latch being provided with a projected lock pin 8 positioned to enter the tube side wall recess a, and projected therethroug'n when released. Adjustably mounted within the tubular bearing support A is a tubular extension support bar 9, extended to nearly the full depth Another object is'to provide a convertible bath tub safety device that is simple in construction, easily and efiiciently installed and operated, and that can be manufactured at a very low cost.

' These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts as are more specifically hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. l is a side elevation view of a standard type of bath tub, showing one form of my safety device mounted thereon.

Fig. 2is a top view of the bath tub, showing the general arrangement of the assembled device as adapted for infant bathing.

i Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of the Fig. 1, showing the relative position of the various unit sections.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the operating mechanism as taken on the line 44 of the Fig. 1, showing the structural design and arrangement of the various operating parts, and means for locking and releasing same. Fig. 5 illustrates a modified cross-sectional view as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a preferred tub bearing support attaching means. v Fig. o'likewise illustrates a further modified crosssectional view as taken on the same line 33 of the Fig. 1, showing a modified extension support design especially adapted for admitting bath tub curtains as may be mounted thereon.

Figs. 7 to 9 further illustrate various detail modifications.

In general, my invention comprises a rigid vertical bearing support, having a tubular extension support member adjustably mounted therein, designed to curve and project over the bath tub walls, connecting therewith, providing a rigid support member for either hand connection, or for supporting an infants basket swing unit mounted thereon.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

of the bearing tube 1, the support bar lower end being formed with elongated wall slots b, preferably arranged at right angles across the tube end, designed and posi-, tioned to engage the bearing support lock pin 6 at chosen positions, when lowered thereon. Within the lower end of the extension bar 9 is fixedly mounted a rigid spring block in, which engages a stressed support coil spring 11 extended to and engages with the lock pin 6. The spring 11 is stressed sufiiciently to support and raise the extension bar 9 when released, and unlock the tubular end notches b from the lock pin 6, leaving the tubular support bar 9 free for removal from the bearing support unit A, or rotation therein to any desired position, within or without the bath tub. However, when the support arm is depressed, forcing the tubular end slots b over the lock pin 6, in any chosen position, it is securely locked therein by the engaging latch pin 8 projected from the spring release latch 7 mounted on the support bearing A, displacing the pin 8 through both wall ports a and 0, thus retaining the extended support bar 9 in position until released by further operation of the spring'latch unit. The tubular extension bar 9 is extended and curved at a chosen elevation above the bath tub walls, to project horizontally across the tub and down to the opposite tub side wall where it engages a fixed tub wall support 12 also rigidly mounted on the tub back wall edge, as illustrated either in Fig. 3 or 4 utilizing either screws or toggle bolts 5 or by the special clamp means illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the'drawings. The'projected tubular bar end is designed to engage and fit'the special support boss d formed thereon. Both bearing 1 and bar 9 may be made square if desired, and designedwith-freeinner eiidfas in Fig. 10. n

Fixedly mounted on the horizontal section of the extension support bar 9 are special swing clamps 13, designed for receiving and supporting an infants swing chair D, of any chosen design, preferably for preventing the infant escaping therefrom, the swing chair preferably being attached by flexible rope, or other suitable support units 14, the length of which is predetermined by the depth of the tub water desired within the tub bottom, either for bathing, or for allowing the infant to play therein when left alone. The support arm 9 and attached basket swing is removable from over the tub by release of the latch spring 7, and lifting and rotating the arm 9, with swing chair D, to the tub outside. Bearing tube 1 3 may be positioned within the tub walls if desired, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

To better adapt my invention to commercial use for the various types and size of available bath tubs, the extension support bar 9 may be made adjustable in width by adapting adiustable tubular bar sections 9a and 9b, one slidable within the other to the desired tub width, as illustrated in the Fig. 4 of the drawings. The use and operation is exactly the same as previously described.

The Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings illustrate the same device, but slightly modified in detail design of the tub attaching means, utilizing special bearing support clamp bands attaching directly to the bearing support tube 1, the clamp band being designed with a wall hook arm e projected from said clamp edge and designed to fit over the top edge of the tub wall, and with the clamp hook drawn tightly thereon. Clamp 15 may be adjustable as in Fig. 7. No perforations or bolt holes are required in the tub walls as in the previous designs. Likewise, the inner wall support block 12a as illustrated in the Fig. 5, is provided with the boss support a as in the former case, and may be attached to the tub wall edge by spring, or clamp means, being formed to press tightly over the tub edge, and if desired, may also be applied with suitable adhesive, or liquid solder for more permancntly retaining same thereon. A further modified design of the frame for the support block 12 is illustrated in the Fig. 6 of the drawings, showing the support block 12b attachable to the tub edge, and with the side bar f cxtended and formed with a special tloor clamp g, attachable to the bath room floor X by suitable screw 16, also without any tub wall perforations. The operation is exactly the same as previously described for the previous designs. The support block 12 may be omitted as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10, when desired. When bath tub curtains are to be used, or otherwise desirable, the extension support bar 9 may be formed and designed S-shape at the outer tub edge, as illustrated in the Figs. 6 and it), thus allowing the bath curtains V to be used therewith, by a slight slitting of the curtain edges, and without changing the unit operations.

The extension bar 9 either tubular or square is adaptable both for the attached infants swing chair unit D, and for a rigid hand safety support for both unattended children and adults, entering or leaving the bath tub unit, or hanging bath utensils thereon.

Having fully described my baby bath and tub safety device, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bath tub safety device adapted for a bath tub installed within a bath room floor and walls, and used therewith, comprising a vertical swivel tubular bearing support having means for rigidly attaching same to the bath room floor and the bath tub wall, a swivel tubular extension support arm adjustably and rotatably mounted within the vertical bearing support tube, said extension support arm being designed and formed to project up above and over the bath tub and downward to the opposite tub wall, means rigidly attached to said opposite tub wall edge, designed and positioned to engage and retain said extension support arm and when adjusted thereon, spring means mounted within the bearing support engageable with the inclosed swivel support arm for supporting and lifting same when released, and latch means fixedly mounted on the bearing support walls engageable with said support arm for locking same in various predetermined positions, said arm being designed for mounting detachable units thereon.

2. A baby bath and tub safety device adapted for installation on a bath tub installed Within a bath room, and used therewith, comprising a vertical tubular swivel bearing support having means for rigidly attaching same to both the bath tub wall and the bath room floor, a swivel tubular extension support arm adjustably mounted within the vertical bearing support, said extension support arm being designed and formed to project above and horizontally over the bath tub and downward to the opposite tub wall edge, support means attached to the tub wall edge designed to engage and fit said extension support arm and when adjusted thereon, a baby swing support means mounted on said support arm centrally over the bath tub opening, spring means mounted within the tubular bearing support engagable with the inclosed swivel support arm and section for lifting and supporting same when released, and latch means mounted on said bearing support designed and positioned engagable with the inclosed vertical support arm end for locking same in any chosen predetermined position.

3. A baby bath and tub safety device adapted for installation on a bath tub installed within a bath room floor and walls, and used therewith, comprising a vertical tubular swivel bearing support having flanged means for rigidly attaching same to the bath room floor and adjustable clamp means mounted thereon for engaging and clamping to the bath tub wall edge, a tubular swivel extension support arm designed with end lock notches, rotatably and adjustably mounted within the bearing support, said extension support arm being designed and formed to project above and horizontally over the bath tub and downward to the opposite tub wall edge, clamp hook support block means attached fixedly to the tub wall edge designed and positioned to engage the extended support arm and when adjusted thereon, a baby swing basket mounted on the extended support arm horizontal section, positioned centrally over the bath tub opening, spring means mounted Within the tubular bearing support engagable with the inclosed swivel support arm end section, designed for supporting and displacing same from the end lock notches when released, and a spring latch means mounted on said bearing support wall, also positioned engagable with the inclosed support arm end section, for locking or releasing same in various predetermined positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,487 Matthie June 23, 1885 1,239,524 Root Sept. 11, 1917 1,376,247 Bishop Apr. 26, 1921 1,892,274 Henschen Dec. 27, 1932 2,624,053 Beckwith Jan. 6, 1953 2,664,142 Scheuerman et a1. Dec. 29, 1953