US2818577A - Foot support for shower baths - Google Patents

Foot support for shower baths Download PDF

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Publication number
US2818577A
US2818577A US595691A US59569156A US2818577A US 2818577 A US2818577 A US 2818577A US 595691 A US595691 A US 595691A US 59569156 A US59569156 A US 59569156A US 2818577 A US2818577 A US 2818577A
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Prior art keywords
body member
shower
foot
bar
foot support
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Expired - Lifetime
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US595691A
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Stanley S Kubik
Kubik John
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K3/00—Baths; Douches; Appurtenances therefor
    • A47K3/12—Separate seats or body supports
    • A47K3/125—Body supports

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a foot support which is adapted for use in a shower bath.
  • a shower bath customarily makes no provision for facilitating washing the feet and legs. It is accordingly necessary for a person taking a shower either to balance on one foot and leg while washing the other or to bend down to the floor to wash these portions of the anatomy. In the case of older persons and those in poor health, both of these procedures are difiicult and sometimes result in injury.
  • our invention contemplates a device having an elongated body member.
  • a foot supporting plate is mounted at the upper end of the body member and a telescopically mounted T-bar is disposed at the lower end.
  • the bottom of the T-bar bears against one corner of the shower, while the foot supporting plate is disposed horizontally, with one edge hearing against the opposite wall of the shower.
  • the body member and T-bar extend diagonally across the shower, with their telescoping providing adjustability for the size of the shower and the height of the person using the device.
  • Another object of our invention is to provide in an alternative embodiment of our invention a foot supporting plate which is adjustable with respect to the body member to provide greater adjustability of the device.
  • Our invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by our invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of our invention, with the telescoped portion of the T-bar shown in dotted lines;
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the bed on the foot supporting plate
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of an alternative embodiment of our invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of our device in use, with the shower bath shown in section.
  • a preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate our invention comprises a body member 10, which preferably is formed from an elongated piece of metal tubing. Attached to the upper end of body member 10 by a pair of bolts 11 or other suitable fastening means is a foot supporting plate 12.
  • the foot supporting plate 12 preferably comprises a flat rectangular piece of metal.
  • the T-bar 14 is also preferably formed of metal tubing, with its diameter being slightly smaller than that of the body member 10.
  • the T-bar 14 has a base 15 which extends transversely to the upper end 13. The entire outer surface of the base 15 is covered with a resilient coating 16 which prevents marring of paint or other surfaces which it may contact and which also improves the gripping quality of the base 15.
  • This resilient coating 16 may be applied by dipping the lower portion of the T-bar 14 into a solution of liquid plastic, rubber or other suitable material which dries to form a resilient coating 16 which extends around the entire outer surface of the base 15 and a short distance upwardly therefrom on the outside of the adjacent lower part of the upper end 13 of T-bar 14.
  • the lower end of the body member 10 is provided with a pair of aligned circular openings 17.
  • the upper end 13 of the T-bar 14 is provided with a plurality of spaced aligned openings 18 of corresponding size.
  • a pin 19 has a shank which extends through openings 17 and through any pair of openings 18 to hold the T-bar 14 in fixed telescopic relationship to the body member 10.
  • the pin 19 is provided with an enlarged head which facilitates its removal from the openings to adjust the positioning of the T-bar 14.
  • a pad 20 which is slightly larger than plate 12 and which is preferably formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material.
  • the bottom of the pad 20 is suitably attached to the plate 12, while the edges of the pad 20 extend beyond the edges of the plate 12.
  • the upper surface of the pad 20 is provided with a series of spaced continuous vertical ridges 21, which are interlaced with a series of spaced broken horizontal ridges 22.
  • the outer edge of the pad 20 is provided with a continous ridge 23, which is broken along one edge by a series of openings 24, which are aligned with the ends of the vertical ridges 21 and which are spaced slightly therefrom.
  • the ridges actually define a plurality of channels which funnel the water and cause it to flow along the sides of the vertical ridges 21 toward the openings 24.
  • our device In use, our device is positioned in a shower in the man ner shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.
  • the base 15 of the T-bar 14 fits within one corner of the shower, with the body member 10 extending diagonally across the shower and the edge of the pad 20 of foot supporting plate 12 bearing against the opposite wall of the shower.
  • the straight edge of the pad 20 which contacts the wall of the shower is provided with a downwardly directed integral lip 25, as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the lip 25 acts as a cushion to prevent marring the wall of the shower. It also provides a better grip on the wall and increases the range of adjustability of positioning of our device.
  • the user 3 places his or her foot on the pad 20 of foot supporting plate 12.
  • the plate 12 is firmly supported by the body member 10 and T-bar 14 and will support the foot and leg while they are being washed. .It is not necessary for the shower user to balance on one .foot or to bend over while washing the feet and legs.
  • the device may be used in the same position or in the opposite position .for washing the other foot and leg.
  • Fig. of the drawings shows an alternative embodiment of our invention in which the foot supporting plate 30 is adjustably mounted with respect to the body member 31. This is accomplished by attaching one half of a hinge 32 to the plate 30, while the other half is attached to the end of the body member 31.
  • the adjacent end of the body member 31 is provided with a pair of aligned openings through which a pin 33 is removably mounted.
  • a pair of brackets 34 are attached to the plate 30 and have a plurality of spaced aligned openings 35.
  • the pin 33 may be removed and the positioning of the plate .30 adjusted with respect to the body member 31.
  • the pin 33 may then be replaced through the openings in body member 31 and any desired pair of openings 35 in the brackets 34.
  • a foot support for removably fitting in a shower bath stall, an elongated body member, a linear base element arranged transversely at one end of said body member and connected thereto, and a plate adapted to support the foot of a shower user rigidly connected to the other end of the body member and disposed in a plane diagonal to the axis of the body member, said element being substantially parallel to the plane of said plate, said foot support being adapted to be positioned so that said 4 base element engages a side bottom corner of the shower stall and the foot plate is arranged substantially horizontally with its outer edge bearing against a side wall of the stall opposite that corner against which the base element bears, the body member of the foot support being disposed to extend at a diagonal angle in the stall.
  • said base element comprises a T-shaped part having a stem petition telescopically engaging the lower part of said body member and a bar transverse to said stern portion.
  • a resilient pad is mounted upon the outer face of said foot supporting plate, and a pattern of ridges with breaks formed on said plate so as to prevent water accumulating upon said pad.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Devices For Medical Bathing And Washing (AREA)

Description

Jan. 7, 1958 s. s. KUBIK ET AL 2,818,577
FOOT SUPPORT FOR SHOWER BATHS Filed July 3, 1956 STANLEY S. KUBIK JOHN KUBIK INVENTORS y 6 66 6? (2,1?
THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent FOOT SUPPORT FOR SHOWER BATHS Stanley S. Kubik and John Kubik, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,691
4 Claims. (Cl. 4-146) This invention relates to a foot support which is adapted for use in a shower bath.
At the present time, a shower bath customarily makes no provision for facilitating washing the feet and legs. It is accordingly necessary for a person taking a shower either to balance on one foot and leg while washing the other or to bend down to the floor to wash these portions of the anatomy. In the case of older persons and those in poor health, both of these procedures are difiicult and sometimes result in injury.
It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide a foot support which is adapted to be installed in a shower bath and which provides firm support at the proper height for washing the feet and legs.
In its preferred embodiment, our invention contemplates a device having an elongated body member. A foot supporting plate is mounted at the upper end of the body member and a telescopically mounted T-bar is disposed at the lower end. In use, the bottom of the T-bar bears against one corner of the shower, while the foot supporting plate is disposed horizontally, with one edge hearing against the opposite wall of the shower. The body member and T-bar extend diagonally across the shower, with their telescoping providing adjustability for the size of the shower and the height of the person using the device.
It is a further object of our invention to provide a resilient pad for use on the foot supporting plate which grips the wall and which because of its special design will not hold water on its surface.
Another object of our invention is to provide in an alternative embodiment of our invention a foot supporting plate which is adjustable with respect to the body member to provide greater adjustability of the device.
It is accordingly among the objects of our invention to provide a device of the class described having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure set forth and particularly to provide such a device which can be manufactured in a simple and economical manner for widespread sale at a reasonable low price.
Our invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by our invention.
While we have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of our invention, it should be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of our invention.
Referring to the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of our invention, with the telescoped portion of the T-bar shown in dotted lines;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the bed on the foot supporting plate;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of an alternative embodiment of our invention;
2,818,577 l atented Jan. 7, 1958 Fig. 6 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of our device in use, with the shower bath shown in section.
A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate our invention comprises a body member 10, which preferably is formed from an elongated piece of metal tubing. Attached to the upper end of body member 10 by a pair of bolts 11 or other suitable fastening means is a foot supporting plate 12. The foot supporting plate 12 preferably comprises a flat rectangular piece of metal.
Telescopically mounted in the hollow lower end of the body member 10 is the upper end 13 of a T-bar 14. The T-bar 14 is also preferably formed of metal tubing, with its diameter being slightly smaller than that of the body member 10. The T-bar 14 has a base 15 which extends transversely to the upper end 13. The entire outer surface of the base 15 is covered with a resilient coating 16 which prevents marring of paint or other surfaces which it may contact and which also improves the gripping quality of the base 15. This resilient coating 16 may be applied by dipping the lower portion of the T-bar 14 into a solution of liquid plastic, rubber or other suitable material which dries to form a resilient coating 16 which extends around the entire outer surface of the base 15 and a short distance upwardly therefrom on the outside of the adjacent lower part of the upper end 13 of T-bar 14.
The lower end of the body member 10 is provided with a pair of aligned circular openings 17. The upper end 13 of the T-bar 14 is provided with a plurality of spaced aligned openings 18 of corresponding size. A pin 19 has a shank which extends through openings 17 and through any pair of openings 18 to hold the T-bar 14 in fixed telescopic relationship to the body member 10. The pin 19 is provided with an enlarged head which facilitates its removal from the openings to adjust the positioning of the T-bar 14.
Mounted on the upper surface of the foot supporting plate 12 is a pad 20, which is slightly larger than plate 12 and which is preferably formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The bottom of the pad 20 is suitably attached to the plate 12, while the edges of the pad 20 extend beyond the edges of the plate 12.
The upper surface of the pad 20 is provided with a series of spaced continuous vertical ridges 21, which are interlaced with a series of spaced broken horizontal ridges 22. The outer edge of the pad 20 is provided with a continous ridge 23, which is broken along one edge by a series of openings 24, which are aligned with the ends of the vertical ridges 21 and which are spaced slightly therefrom.
This pattern is important because it acts to prevent water from accumulating on the pad 20 when our device is in use. In this connection, it will be noted that the ridges actually define a plurality of channels which funnel the water and cause it to flow along the sides of the vertical ridges 21 toward the openings 24.
In use, our device is positioned in a shower in the man ner shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The base 15 of the T-bar 14 fits within one corner of the shower, with the body member 10 extending diagonally across the shower and the edge of the pad 20 of foot supporting plate 12 bearing against the opposite wall of the shower.
It may be noted that the straight edge of the pad 20 which contacts the wall of the shower is provided with a downwardly directed integral lip 25, as shown in Fig. 2. The lip 25 acts as a cushion to prevent marring the wall of the shower. It also provides a better grip on the wall and increases the range of adjustability of positioning of our device.
With the device in the position described, the user 3 places his or her foot on the pad 20 of foot supporting plate 12. The plate 12 is firmly supported by the body member 10 and T-bar 14 and will support the foot and leg while they are being washed. .It is not necessary for the shower user to balance on one .foot or to bend over while washing the feet and legs. As soon as one foot and leg have been washed, the device may be used in the same position or in the opposite position .for washing the other foot and leg.
Fig. of the drawings shows an alternative embodiment of our invention in which the foot supporting plate 30 is adjustably mounted with respect to the body member 31. This is accomplished by attaching one half of a hinge 32 to the plate 30, while the other half is attached to the end of the body member 31. The adjacent end of the body member 31 is provided with a pair of aligned openings through which a pin 33 is removably mounted. A pair of brackets 34 are attached to the plate 30 and have a plurality of spaced aligned openings 35. The pin 33 may be removed and the positioning of the plate .30 adjusted with respect to the body member 31. The pin 33 may then be replaced through the openings in body member 31 and any desired pair of openings 35 in the brackets 34.
We claim:
1. In a foot support for removably fitting in a shower bath stall, an elongated body member, a linear base element arranged transversely at one end of said body member and connected thereto, and a plate adapted to support the foot of a shower user rigidly connected to the other end of the body member and disposed in a plane diagonal to the axis of the body member, said element being substantially parallel to the plane of said plate, said foot support being adapted to be positioned so that said 4 base element engages a side bottom corner of the shower stall and the foot plate is arranged substantially horizontally with its outer edge bearing against a side wall of the stall opposite that corner against which the base element bears, the body member of the foot support being disposed to extend at a diagonal angle in the stall.
2. In a foot support as claimed in claim 1, means wherein said base element comprises a T-shaped part having a stem petition telescopically engaging the lower part of said body member and a bar transverse to said stern portion.
3. In a foot support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foot supporting plate is hingedly connected with the body with means between said plate and said body to adjust the relative inclination between them.
4. In a foot support as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resilient pad is mounted upon the outer face of said foot supporting plate, and a pattern of ridges with breaks formed on said plate so as to prevent water accumulating upon said pad.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,513,440 Wirt Oct. 28, 1924 1,976,121 Gazvoda Oct. 9, 1934 2,567,883 Bryant Sept. 11, 1951 2,576,883 Koski Nov. 27, 1951 2,634,795 Bishop Apr. 14, 1953 2,671,908 Tronic Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 355,758 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1930 689,616 France May 27, 1930
US595691A 1956-07-03 1956-07-03 Foot support for shower baths Expired - Lifetime US2818577A (en)

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Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3161435A (en) * 1962-03-22 1964-12-15 Clyde M Halverson Leg support for automotive vehicle operators
US4489448A (en) * 1983-05-10 1984-12-25 Cairo John B Foot support for showers
US4498204A (en) * 1983-09-21 1985-02-12 Warner Stanley H Adjustable position physical support system
EP0492147A2 (en) * 1990-11-28 1992-07-01 Achim Pohl Shower floor element
US5341528A (en) * 1993-03-11 1994-08-30 Caroline Sultzbaugh Foot rest for use in a shower
US5465435A (en) * 1995-02-21 1995-11-14 Malvaez; Laura A. Shower step for shaving legs
US5579545A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-03 Janeen E. Beard Combined foot support and grooming needs holder
US20070163039A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-07-19 Lee Shun C Device for supporting a foot
US20110113990A1 (en) * 2009-11-17 2011-05-19 Kristin Wald Corner-braced, portable, foot prop
US20140115774A1 (en) * 2012-10-30 2014-05-01 2M Products, LLC Corner support platform
US20160316893A1 (en) * 2010-10-12 2016-11-03 John BARMAN Cervical spine and head supporting device
US20180252038A1 (en) * 2017-03-06 2018-09-06 Michael McGarey Portable step device and method
USD833788S1 (en) 2016-05-04 2018-11-20 Kristin Wald Adjustable shelf
US10172468B2 (en) * 2016-06-14 2019-01-08 Glenn Scott Houghson Adjustable portable headrest
USD945199S1 (en) * 2019-12-30 2022-03-08 Gonge Creative Learning Aps Footrest for chair or seat
USD1012519S1 (en) * 2020-08-18 2024-01-30 Rpf Innovation, Llc Shower stand

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1513440A (en) * 1924-04-12 1924-10-28 Landis H Wirt Table attachment for bathtubs
FR689616A (en) * 1929-09-21 1930-09-09 Shower cabin
GB355758A (en) * 1929-09-21 1931-08-28 Anton Weber Improvements relating to bathing cabins
US1976121A (en) * 1934-04-27 1934-10-09 Gazvoda Louis Shovel seat
US2567883A (en) * 1945-12-22 1951-09-11 American Hoist & Derrick Co Electric motor driven material handling system
US2576883A (en) * 1946-07-03 1951-11-27 Eino V Koski Footrest
US2634795A (en) * 1950-03-07 1953-04-14 Julius C Bishop Swivel stool
US2671908A (en) * 1951-08-14 1954-03-16 Estee Mfg Co Inc Bathtub seat

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1513440A (en) * 1924-04-12 1924-10-28 Landis H Wirt Table attachment for bathtubs
FR689616A (en) * 1929-09-21 1930-09-09 Shower cabin
GB355758A (en) * 1929-09-21 1931-08-28 Anton Weber Improvements relating to bathing cabins
US1976121A (en) * 1934-04-27 1934-10-09 Gazvoda Louis Shovel seat
US2567883A (en) * 1945-12-22 1951-09-11 American Hoist & Derrick Co Electric motor driven material handling system
US2576883A (en) * 1946-07-03 1951-11-27 Eino V Koski Footrest
US2634795A (en) * 1950-03-07 1953-04-14 Julius C Bishop Swivel stool
US2671908A (en) * 1951-08-14 1954-03-16 Estee Mfg Co Inc Bathtub seat

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3161435A (en) * 1962-03-22 1964-12-15 Clyde M Halverson Leg support for automotive vehicle operators
US4489448A (en) * 1983-05-10 1984-12-25 Cairo John B Foot support for showers
US4498204A (en) * 1983-09-21 1985-02-12 Warner Stanley H Adjustable position physical support system
EP0492147A2 (en) * 1990-11-28 1992-07-01 Achim Pohl Shower floor element
EP0492147B1 (en) * 1990-11-28 1997-10-15 Achim Pohl Shower floor element
US5341528A (en) * 1993-03-11 1994-08-30 Caroline Sultzbaugh Foot rest for use in a shower
US5465435A (en) * 1995-02-21 1995-11-14 Malvaez; Laura A. Shower step for shaving legs
US5579545A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-03 Janeen E. Beard Combined foot support and grooming needs holder
US20070163039A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-07-19 Lee Shun C Device for supporting a foot
US8628143B2 (en) 2009-11-17 2014-01-14 Kristin Wald Corner-braced, portable, foot prop
US20110113990A1 (en) * 2009-11-17 2011-05-19 Kristin Wald Corner-braced, portable, foot prop
US20160316893A1 (en) * 2010-10-12 2016-11-03 John BARMAN Cervical spine and head supporting device
US10231532B2 (en) * 2010-10-12 2019-03-19 John BARMAN Cervical spine and head supporting device
US20140115774A1 (en) * 2012-10-30 2014-05-01 2M Products, LLC Corner support platform
US9414719B2 (en) * 2012-10-30 2016-08-16 2M Products, LLC Corner support platform
USD833788S1 (en) 2016-05-04 2018-11-20 Kristin Wald Adjustable shelf
US10172468B2 (en) * 2016-06-14 2019-01-08 Glenn Scott Houghson Adjustable portable headrest
US20180252038A1 (en) * 2017-03-06 2018-09-06 Michael McGarey Portable step device and method
USD945199S1 (en) * 2019-12-30 2022-03-08 Gonge Creative Learning Aps Footrest for chair or seat
USD1012519S1 (en) * 2020-08-18 2024-01-30 Rpf Innovation, Llc Shower stand

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