US3458876A - Bathtub seat - Google Patents

Description

5, 1969 R. A. STRUTHERS 3,458,876

BATHTUB SEAT Filed Sept. 12, 1966 FIG. l '6 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. ST THERS i JI."\XL

' ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,458,876 BATHTUB SEAT Robert A. Struthers, 27 NE. Killingsworth, Portland, Oreg. 97211 Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,691

Int. Cl. A47k 3/12 US. Cl. 4-185 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bathtub seat structure comprising a seat portion contoured to support a person in seated position, individual legs on the under surfaces of such seat portion arranged for engagement with the bottom of a bathtub to elevate the seat from the bottom of the tube and reinforcing ribs extending between and formed integrally with the individual legs to provide a compact and stable structure.

This invention relates to a seat structure arranged to be placed in a bathtub for supporting a person thereon.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a seat of the type described having a novel construction intended primarily to prevent the formation of any vacuum seal between the bottom of the bathtub and parts of the body, such object beir g accomplished by a seat structure contoured for comfortably receiving a person in seated position and being perforated to prevent such seal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat of the type described which is simplified in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and light weight whereby it can be easily placed in a tub or removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide a seat of the type described having means to firmly anchor it to the tub in a stationary position, and furthermore to provide such a seat which is rugged in construction and attractive in appearance.

Additional objects will become apparent from the following specification and claim, considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein the numerals of reference indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the present seat;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in particular to the drawings and first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the present invention employs a seat portion, designated by the numeral 10, of elliptical shape and having its major axis extending transversely. As viewed in a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken centrally of the seat 10, FIGURE 3, it will be seen that said seat has a rearwardly disposed recess portion 12 defined by a rear, upwardly curved wall portion 14, up-

wardly curved side wall portions 16, and an upwardly inclined front wall surface 18. The forwardmost end 20 of the surface 18 is curved downwardly. All the wall portions defined are gently rounded and lead from each other in a unitary, molded structure on which a person may be comfortably seated with the buttocks engaged in the deepest portion of the recess 12 and with the upper leg portions engaged on the gently curved surfaces 18 The seat 10 is substantially symmetrical in its lateral dimension as exemplified in the vertical cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4.

This seat has a plurality of small apertures 22 in its central area, the particular design of the perforated area not being important but it is required that such area be large enough to encompass the vaginal and anal portions of an individual when the latter is seated on the device, the purpose of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The seat 10 has integral front legs 26 and rear legs 28, the rear legs supporting the seat at substantially the lowermost portion of the recess 12 and the front legs supporting the seat at the upperwardly inclined front surface 18. The legs 26 and 28 are of identical construction, except for their height, and as seen in FIGURE 6, which comprises a horizontal sectional view taken through one of the legs, they have a thick, sturdy body portion 30 and vertically disposed reinforcing ribs 32.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3, and 5, horizontal, longitudinally disposed reinforcing ribs 34 extend between respective pairs of front and rear legs 26, 28, such ribs leading from inwardly directed ones of ribs 32. In a preferred construction, the seat 10 as well as the legs and reinforcing ribs 34 comprise an integrated molded srtucture.

Mounted on the bottom of legs 26 and 28 are suction cups 36. As best seen in FIGURE 5, the bottom edge of the legs have sockets 38 and the suction cups have ball type projections 40. In a preferred arrangement, projections 40 are sufliciently resilient that they may be forced into sockets 38 to provide a snap-type connection between the suction cups and the legs.

A primary purpose of the present invention is to permit tub bathing throughout pregnancy. In such use, the present seat, due to its perforations, prevents any vacuum seal from being created between the tub and vaginal portions. The possibility of infection resulting from such vacuum seals is thereby eliminated. Another purpose of the invention is to simplify the application of hydrotherapeutic treatment to the pelvic, anal, and perineal areas in both male and female. Also it may be used for other conditions not associated with pregnancy or hydrotherapeutic treatment, and furthermore it has the mechanical advantage of providing a raised platform for weakened patients or invalids. The suction cup feet firmly anchor the seat to the tub and provide a stable, safe support.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bathtub seat structure, comprising:

(a) an elliptically shaped seat (10) incorporating a rearwardly disposed, perforated recess portion (12) for supporting the buttocks of a person seated thereon, the recess portion being defined by a rear, upwardly curved wall surface (14), upwardly curved side wall surfaces (16) and an upwardly inclined front wall surface (18); and a downwardly curved forward end surface (20);

Patented Aug. 5, 1969 (b) a plurality of individual legs on the under surrespective legs for attaching the seat structure to the faces of the recess portion and the front wall surbottom wall ofabathtub.

face of the seat, respectively, for engaging the bottom of a bath tube to elevate the seat from the bottom of R f renc s Cited the tub, each of said legs being formedthintlggggly 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS with the seat and including a relatively is y portion (30) and a plurality of vertically disposed glack reinforcing ribs 2985889 5/1961 1 4 185 (c) longitudinally disposed reinforcing ribs (34) exam e tending between the legs, supporting the respective 10 FOREIGN PATENTS elements of said seat and formed integrally with 431,084 6/1911 France said legs and the under surfaces of the seat; and (d) suction cups (36) mounted on the ends of the PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner

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