US3010116A

US3010116A - Transportable bath cabinets

Info

Publication number: US3010116A
Application number: US833187A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cowley George Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-08-16
Filing date: 1959-08-12
Publication date: 1961-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 396i G. E. cowLEY TRANSPORTABLE BATH CABINETS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l2. 1959 Nov. 28, 1961 G. E. com/LEY 3,010,116

TRANSPORTABLE BATH CABINETS Filed Aug. 12. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.2`. v FIG. 3,

Nov. 2, 1961 G. E'. cowLEY TRANSPORTABLE BATH CABINETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12b 1959 Nov. 28, 1961 G. E. cowLEY TRANSFORTABLE BATH CABINETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. l2. 1959 Nov. 28, 1961 G. E. cowLEY 39010116 TRANsPoRTABLE-BATH CABINETS Filed Aug. 12. 1959 5 sheets-sheet 5 3,010,116 TRANSPRTABLE BATH CABINETS George Edward Cowley, 105 Manchester Road, Audenshaw, Manchester, England Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,187 Claims priority, application Great Britain Aug. 16, 1958 4 Claims. (Cl. 4--146) This invention relates to transportable bath cabinets and has for its object the provision of a transportable bath cabinet assembly which is self-contained, compact and readily fitted into a room where required, where it is connected to a source of supply of water, of heating medium and to a drain, the connections being either permanent or readily detachable to permit of temporary removal of the bath cabinet when not required for use.

An advantageous construction of transportable bath cabinet assembly according to the invention includes in combination a cabinet of appropriate size, one lside being formed with an opening for giving access to the interior of the cabinet; a roof of translucent material having access to atmosphere; a bath, removably located in said cabinet; a metal water tank of appropriate capacity secured in one top corner of the cabinet and connectable to a water supply, and also having an overflow pipe, the tan-k also embodying heating means; means for indicating the depth of water in the tank; means for indicating the temperature f the water in the tank; means for supplying coldand hot-water to the bath; means for draining the bath, and means for closing the opening to the bath cabinet adapted to be secured from inside the cabinet.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, description will now be given of a transportable bath cabinet` assembly constructed according to the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: v

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one struction of the bath cabinet assembly;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the line II-II of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification later to be dscribed;

FIG. 4 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of a further modification also later to be described;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable bath forming part of the assembly, the view being taken from below;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of an alternativepconstruction of bath cabinet assembly looking atthe front; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the cabinet shown in FIG. l, llooking at the side and embodying a vfurther modification later referred to.

The same reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings, being distinguished in some cases by the addition of an exponent.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the cabinet proper comprises a light wooden skeleton framework which may, for'example, be of the following dimensions, viz. four feet long, two feet three inches wide and six feet three inches high, although these dimensions are not arbitrary, the vertical members of the framework being indicated at 10, the longitudinal front cross-bars 11, the longitudinal back cross-bars 12 and thev side crossbars 13. In one advantageous construction the back Aand both ends of the framework are covered by panels' 14 of synthetic plastic material, which may be of any deadvantageous conatent fi suit. The interior or a part thereof may be covered with synthetic plastic panels also of any desired colour.

The roof of the cabinet is formed of a wooden skeleton frame 16 adapted to fit inside the upper part ofthe frame of the cabinet and be supported on cross-bars 17.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the -roof of the cabinet is provided with sheets 18, of translucent glass or synthetic plastic material arranged to form `louvres which permit of the escape of steam from the cabinet.

To protect the louvres and `to guard against possible injury to the head of a bather, a light metal grid, e.g`., gauze (not shown), may be fitted in the head of the cabinet below the said louvres.

Located at one end of the cabinet is a metal water tank 19 of appropriate capacity, advantageously of 14 gallons, although the capacity of the tank may -be of other desired capacity. The tank 19 is secured to the framework at top and bottom by lugs 20 attached to the framework by screws.

The tank 19 is formed at its base with a longitudinally extending trough 21 into which is fitted a 3-kilowatt immersion heater 22 having` a plug, not shown, for attach.- ment to a source of supply of electric current. The heater 22 is controlled by a thermostat, indicated at 23, so that the temperature of the water shall not exceed say 110 Fahrenheit thereby avoiding risk of accidental scalding. A pilot lamp (not shown) is also provided to give visual indication that the heater is On. A cut-out switch (not shown) is also provided to isolate the heater from the electric supply when the bath is in use.

Water is supplied to the tank 19 by way of a ballcock 24 connected to a source of water supply and controlled by a float 25. Other means may be provided for filling the water tank.

The water tank 19` is furnished with an overflow pipe 26 and with an outlet tap 27l to which is connected a length of hose-pipe 281 provided at its opposite end with sired colour. The front of 'the cabinet is fumished at 'v a nozzle 29. The Water tank 19 is also vfurnished with a further outlet tap 30 to which is connected a hose 31 forming a shower attachment.

Located in the base of the cabinet and resting on the floor 32 is a portable bath 33, which is advantageously stepped at one end, to provide a seat indicated at 34. An advantageous depth of bath is fourteen inches. The bath 33 is advantageously formed of fibre glass and may be coloured to match the cabinet or to contrast therewith.-

Advantageously the bath 33 is formed on eachA exterior side with a raised rib, one of which is indicated at 35, FIG. 5, similar raised ribs being formed on the underside of the bath and on the underside of the Seat 34 as indicated at 36, 37 respectively. The aforesaid ribs serve to resist outward buckling of the Walls of the bath 33 under pressure of the water. The bath 33 is provided with a drain outlet 38. n

The cabinet is provided in its base with a'low wooden stool indicated at 39 designed to .fit under and support the seat 34 and to stabilise the bath 33.

The ball-cock 24 is connected to the water supply by a flexible pipe indicated at 40, FIG. 2, and the drain outlet is connected to a convenient outletbyA a flexible pipe indicated at 41, FIG. 1. The

flexible pipes

40, 41 and the pipe 28 are advantageously formed-of synthetic plastic material, for example, polythene. y

Attached to the upper bar 11 of the open side of the Vframe is a curtain runner on which is slidably fitted a pair of curtains indicated in dot-and-dash lines at'42, in FIG. 2, advantageously of plastic fabric or other waterproof material, which when drawn together to mask the interior are' adapted to be fastened from` insidethe cabinet. The fastening maybe of anyfsuitable'iform, for example, press-studs, hooksand eyes or sliding tooth fasteners (notsshown). f 'L l With the bath cabinet in desired position and the connections made to electric and water supplies and the drainage, the tank 19 is illed with water to the desired extent determined by the ball-cock 24, the immersion heater 2.2 is switched on to heat the water in the tank 19 to the desired degree. The bath 33 is lled with hot water to the required extent by means of the outlet tap 27 and hose-pipe 2S. A user sitting in the bath 33 fastens the curtains 42 from the inside and performs his ablutions in comfort and privacy. The delivery hosepipe 28 may be used to spray water on the back of the bather, and the shower 31 |may also be used if required.

Heat radiated from the water tank 19 keeps the interior of the bath cabinet pleasantly warm.

The cabinet may be provided with a receptacle 43 to hold soap, Sponge, or other requisites, and with towel rails 45 (only one shovxm, FIGURE 2).

As shown the cabinet may be furnished with windows indicated at 46, 47 respectively, each fitted with a sheet of translucent material.

The cabinet may be furnished with castors or small wheels, indicated at 48, to facilitate moving it around when necessary.

In the modified constructions of bath cabinet illustrated in FIGS. -3 and 4, the same reference numerals indicate parts corresponding to those previously described, but distinguished by the addition of the digits 3 and 4 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bath cabinet is made in sections, advantageously three. A lower section A, hereafter referred to as the foot section, which is adapted to house the bath, an intermediate section B comprising side and back walls and two front corner pillars joined at the top by a cross-rail adapted to carry a curtain, and a toprpanel C to form the roo-f, formed of a wood frame which may be fitted with a sheet of translucent glass or preferably with sheets of translucent glass arranged to form a lourvre, as before described.

The intermediate section B is formed along the lower edges of the side and back walls with a depending ilange 50 whereby when the intermediate section B is placed on top of the foot section A, the ange 50 serves to retain the intermediate section B rigidly in position.

Ifv desired the two sections A and B may be screwedv or otherwise secured together as indicated at 51.

.The aforesaid flange 50 forms a close joint between the foot and intermediate sections.

Instead of the flange 50 as described, the intermediate section B may be secured to the foot section A by means of dowel pins 52, see FIG. 4. Advantageously the intermediate section B may be formed adjacent to its upper end with a beading 53 extending around the inside just below the top edge whereby to provide a flange tosupport the roof panel 163 when it is dropped into position.

rIhe formation of the back cabinet in sections as described facilitates transport and storage, and also allows for the bath cabinet to be erected in places not easily accessible with the single unit cabinet.

Alternativelyin place of draw curtains the front of the bath cabinet may be furnished with a door or two outwardly swinging half doors to close the aforesaid opening, as shown for example in FIGURE 7.

While :the improved bath cabinet is primarily intended to be transportable with detachable pipe connections to the water supply and drain outlet it may be located in a permanent position and the inlet and outlet pipe conneotions made with copper, lead or polythene pipes permanently connected.

, The upper edges of the bath 33 when in the cabinet are furnished -with a soft resilient padding Aformed of wood battons 54 provided with a-sponge rubber or'foamed plasticpad 551. The battens 54 are pressed down into position on to the upper edges of the bath 33 to tit closely against the walls of the cabinet. l

The padded battens serve to hold the bath 33 rigidly in i position in the cabinet. When it is desired to remove the bath from the cabinet the padded battens are prised up and removed when the bath '33 may be tilted and lifted out of the cabinet after disconnecting the waste outlet.

The edges of the cabinet may be furnished with protective angle pieces indicated at 55.

In the modiied construction of bath cabinet assembly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, parts corresponding to those described in reference to FIGS. l to 5 will be indicated by the same reference numerals distinguished by the addition of the digit 6.

In this modified construction the fibre glass bath 33 is substituted -by an enamelled metal bath 56 of orthodox shape and of an appropriate size to lit into the lower part of the cabinet and to be supported on the lower section of the cabinet by means of its flanged rims engaging with the frame of the said lower section, as` indicated at 57 in FIG. 6.

:In this construction the water tank 196 is litted with a 3kilowatt immersion heater as before, located in the trough 216 and in operative connection with a source of supply of electric current under control of a switch S8 located on the side of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 7, the switch incorporating a pilot light indicated at 59l to give Visual indication that the current is On The tank 196 is also fitted with a temperature indicating gauge 60 and with a gauge 61 to show the depth of water in the tank 196.

Cold water is supplied to the tank 196 by `way of a coldwater inlet 62, see FIG. 7, connectible to a water supply, and communicating with the tank 196 by way of a pipe 63 in which is intercalated a stop cock 64.

The bath 56 is furnished with a cold-water tap 65 and a hot-water tap 66, the taps being fitted on a cross-rail 67 secured to the side frame of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 6.

The cold-water tap is connected to the cold-water supply pipe 63, and the hot-water tap 66 is connected to the hot-water supply pipe 68 communicating with the water-tank 196.

The bath cabinetmay be fitted as be-fore with drawcurtains 426, as shown in FIG. 6, or alternatively it may be fitted with a pair of outwardly swinging half-doors 69 respectively hinged to the front of the vertical side panels of the bath cabinet as shown in FIG. 7.

In this construction cold-water is supplied to the water tank 196 to the amount required and as shown by the gauge 61. The immersion heater is then switched on to heat the water in the tank 196. Hot-water is fed to the bath 56 by way of the pipe 68 and tap 66. If desired, cold-water alone may be fed to the bath 56 by closing the stop cock 64 and opening the cold-water tap 65 when cold-water from the cold-water inlet 62 enters the bath direct. f

The bath 56 has the usual plug controlled drain outlet which is tted with a connection indicated at 70, FIG. 7, for attachment to a drain pipe.

The bath cabinet is tted with a window 206 in one side wall and with a mirror 71 in the back wall of the cabinet. The roof of the bath cabinet is formed of a panel of open- Vmesh plastic material indicated at 72 in FIG. 6, whereby steam may escape to atmosphere through the interstices of the panel 72.

The improved transportable bath `cabinet Vas described is advantageous for use in many situations, .i.e., houses without a bath, in converted ilats, cottages, boarding houses, hotels, sports clubs, hospitals and the like and is especially suitable for invalids and aged persons desiring a private bath in the bedroom, or in other places .where there is access to a'water supply and drainage, and if required, to electricity or gas supplies. Y

An advantageous feature of the .sectionalised bath cabinet is that the intermediate section B maybe made any desirable height to suit requirements, while leaving the foot section A and the roof panel of standard size.V4

The bath cabinet takes up little s pace and if tted with detachable connections may be removed and stored away until required.

Other modifications may be made in the invention, for example, the cabinet instead of being made with a wood frame and plywood or synthetic plastic panels, may be made of metal sheet made of a light metal alloy.

I claim:

1. A portable combination bath and shower cabinet assembly including, a generally upright cabinet having a floor and vented roof and also having an opening in one of its sides for entry into and exit from said cabinet, a bath tub mounted in said cabinet and resting on said oor, said tub having upper edges facing outwardly and extending therearound, said cabinet having means on the inside thereof against which said tub edges are adapted to rmly abut so that said tub can be removed upwardly, a water tank secured in said tank and adjacent the upper portion thereof, a shower head connected with said tank and located in an upper portion of said cabinet and above said tub whereby water from the head Will drain by gravity into said tub, Water supply means connected with said tank and extending from said cabinet, said tub` having a drain at the lower portion thereof and a pipe connectable to said drain, and extending to the exterior of the cabinet.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 including, battens pressed down on the upper edges ofsaid tub and and an intermediate section, means between said sectionsl for detachably connecting said intermediate section on top of said foot section, said tub being mounted in said foot section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,372,51'98 Buka Mar. 22, 1921 2,011,148 Hoehn Aug. 13, 1935 2,115,60'1 Whitby et al. Apr. 26, 1938 2,454,518 McCann Nov. 23, 1948 2,492,913 Bailey Dec. 27, 1949 2,544,092 Karlson Mar. 6, 1951 2,697,231 Strand Dec. 2l, 1954 2,748,249 Collerati May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 562,587 England July 7, 1944