US2965153A

US2965153A - Collapsible bathtub seat

Info

Publication number: US2965153A
Application number: US799340A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr James G Purcell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-03-13
Filing date: 1959-03-13
Publication date: 1960-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-20

Description

Dec. 20, 1960 J. G. PURCELL, SR?

COLLAPSIBLE BATHTUB SEAT Filed March 13, 1959 IN V EN TOR. mm 6. &2554452 nited States COLLAPSIBEEBATHTUB SEAT James G; Purcell, Sr., Box 218,*Cros'svilie, Tenu." 'Filed Mar. 13,-1959-S'. Nat-759340' 1 Claim. (Cl. ISS-36.5)

This invention relates to improvements in bathroom fixtures and more particularly to a collapsible seat that is adapted to be mounted so that it may be used when a person is using a bath tub or shower.

An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible seat that may be mounted in a recess in the wall of a bathroom so that the seat may be moved into position within a tub or shower or moved to storage position within the recess in the wall.

It is known that many serious accidents have been caused by people slipping in the tub or shower when attempting to wash their feet by standing on one foot to complete the operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible seat that permits a person to sit down so that he can wash his feet, hair or other parts of his body without the danger of bodly harm.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully herenafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a typical bath tub installation, showing a collapsible seat embodying the invention installed in a recess in the wall above the bath tub;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view of the seat portion of the collapsible seat embodying the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral is used to generally indicate a bath tub construction with which a collapsible seat 11 embodying the invention is associated.

In the conventional bath tub construction 10 the bath tub 12 is mounted within an alcove 13 in a wall 14. Water for bathing is permitted to enter the bath tub 12 from a faucet 15 and the bath tub 12 is mounted on the floor 16 within the alcove 13.

To mount the collapsible seat 11, a recess 17 is provided in the wall 14 adjacent the bath tub 12, and a door 18 hinged at 19, is used to cover the open face of the recess 17. The door 18 is inset within an annular depression 20 that is located in the wall 14 in circumjacent relation to the recess 17.

A pivot bar 21 is mounted in the recess 17 transversely thereof by mounting screw eyes 22 and a seat portion 23 has hinge portions 24 at the rear edge thereof rolled around the bar 21, as shown in Fig. 4. The seat portion 23 has a curved annular depending flange 25 on the front and side edges thereof and the seat portion 23 is made of aluminum or some other material that is rust and tarnish proof.

Hnged to each front corner of the seat portion 13 by 2365353 i ?sea ed ?gazet n a pair of hinges 26, is a pair of straight tubular' legs 27 relationto each other are a pair of tubular rungs 29aid the rungs 29 are rigidly Secured at their opposite ends to the inner surface sof the leg`s27. I i I A`pa'ir of curved looking-members& are; each pivotally cnnectedat'ie'eid at 31 to each of the'lgs' a pivot pin 32 mounted on the inner surface of each of the side flanges 25 at right angles thereto engages a curved slot 33 in each of the members 30. The pins 32 move in the slots 33 as the seat portion 23 is moved from storing position as shown in Fig. 1 to operative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A notch 34 is provided in each of the members 30 contiguous with the end of the slot 33 that is opposite to the ends of the members 30 pivoted at 31 to the legs 27, and when the pins 32 are seated in the notches 34, the seat portion 23 is prevented from collapsing while in use.

In the use of the collapsible seat 11 embodying the invention after the collapsible seat 11 has been installed in the recess 17 and the door 18 has been hinged at 19 to close the recess 17, access is gained to the collapsible seat 11 by opening the door 18 by means of the pull knob 35. The hinges 19 are of a Construction to permit the door 18 to be swung open until it is in contactual relation with the face of the wall 14, as shown in Fig. 3.

Then a hand grip 36, secured to the upper rung 29, is grasped by one hand and the collapsible seat 11 is moved to operable position, as shown in Fig. 2. The pins 32 Will engage the notches 34 at the end of the travel of the pins 32 in the slots 33 and the seat portion 23 will be retained in operative position.

When it is desired to move the collapsible seat to storing position, the members 30 are moved to disengage the pins 32 from the notches 34 and the seat portion 23 is moved upwardly until it is received within the recess 17. During upward movement of the seat portion 23, the legs 27 will fold into position in engagement with the undersurface of the seat portion 23, as shown in dotted line position, Fig. 2, and the door 18 may then be closed.

The provision of a collapsible seat 11, as previously described, will be convenient for a person to sit on while taking a bath within the bath tub 12 and when he is seated on such a collapsible seat while washing his body, he will be prevented from having many serious accidents that occur When a person is taking a bath while standing.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the Construction and manner of use of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of Construction, arrangement and combinaton of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be' Secured by Letters Patent is:

A collapsible seat Construction for use in association with a bath tub positioned within an alcove in a wall comprising a seat portion having a depending curved flange on the front and side edges thereof, said seat portion being adapted to be pivotally mounted in a recess behind the bath tub, a pivot bar mounted in the recess transversely thereof and portions of the rear edge of said seat portion are hingedly connected to said pivot bar, a pair of tubular legs hinged to and collapsible against the bottom of the seat portion, each of said legs having a rubber foot member on the lower end thereof and the upper end of each leg contacting and conforming to the contour of the depending curved flange on the front edge of said seat portion whereby said legs are more firmly retained in vertical relation to the bath tub, a pair of spaced parallel rungs connected to the inner surface of the legs, a hand grip connected to one of said rungs to move the collapsible seat into and out of the recess, a door hngedly mounted in the Wall to close the recess, a curved locking member having a curved slot therein pvotally connected at` one end thereof to each of said legs, a pinmounted on the inne' surface of each of the side anges of said seat portion at right angles thereto, said pins being mounted in the slots in said members and each of said 'members having a notch therein contiguous with the ends of the slots in the free ends of the members so that when the legs are in supporting position the pins will be seated in the notches at the ends of the slots to prevent the seat portion from collapsing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 8, Great Britain Aug. 23,