Abstract A bathtub for invalids includes a fixed part and a rotatable drum or cylindrical part. The fixed part includes sidewalls on three sides with the other side abutted against the rotatable part. The rotatable part has cylindrical sidewalls with a segment open to provide an entrance into the bathtub. With drum part rotatably positioned such that the open segment faces away from the fixed part of the tub, the cylindrical walls abut against and span across the open side of the fixed part of the bathtub to retain water therein. An invalid may sit on a seat within the drum part and the drum may be rotated until the open segment faces the open side of the fixed part of the bathtub. The seat may then be lowered to the bottom of the tub or to any desired intermediate level. To get out of the tub, the seat is raised and then the drum is rotated until the open segment faces away from the remainder of the bathtub. Alternatively, an invalid may enter and stand in the drum part with the seat in a lowered position recessed in the bottom of the drum. A hand rail may be raised from a recessed position in the cylindrical wall for the invalid to grasp while standing and while the drum is rotating for either entrance into or departure from the bathtub.
Inventors
👤 Malachy J Moran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-29 12:44
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K3/00; A47K3/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A bathtub comprising a fixed part and a cylindrically shaped rotatable part situated with its axis vertical; said fixed part including a bottom closure and sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, said sidewalls having one side open and abutting against the cylindrically shaped rotatable part; said rotatable part having a bottom closure and a cylindrically curved sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, said cylindrically curved sidewall having an open segment providing an entrance into the interior of said cylindrical rotatable part and an exit therefrom; said rotatable part being operable to rotate between a first position wherein the curved sidewall of the rotatable part spans and closes the open side of the fixed part and wherein the open segment faces away from the fixed part, and a second position wherein the open segment of the rotatable part faces into the open side of the fixed part of the bathtub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A bathtub comprising a fixed part and a cylindrically shaped rotatable part situated with its axis vertical; said fixed part including a bottom closure and sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, said sidewalls having one side open and abutting against the cylindrically shaped rotatable part; said rotatable part having a bottom closure and a cylindrically curved sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, said cylindrically curved sidewall having an open segment providing an entrance into the interior of said cylindrical rotatable part and an exit therefrom; said rotatable part being operable to rotate between a first position wherein the curved sidewall of the rotatable part spans and closes the open side of the fixed part and wherein the open segment faces away from the fixed part, and a second position wherein the open segment of the rotatable part faces into the open side of the fixed part of the bathtub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A bathtub in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a seat inside said rotatable part and movable vertically within the rotatable part of the bathtub; means for moving the seat between a fully raised position and a lowered position substantially flush witH the bottom closure of the fixed part of the bathtub; and means for locking the seat in any desired vertical position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A bathtub in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a motor for rotating the cylindrical part of the bathtub and for moving the seat vertically; and clutch means for selectively coupling the motor to raise or lower the seat vertically and to rotate the cylindrical part of the bathtub.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bathtub in accordance with claim 1 further comprising liquid seals positioned between the abutting portions of the fixed part and the rotatable part of the bathtub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A bathtub in accordance with claim 4 wherein liquid seals attached to the fixed tub extend vertically between the sidewalls of the fixed part of the bathtub cylindrical sidewalls and the rotatable part and wherein a liquid seal extends circumferentially around a segment of the bottom closure of the fixed part of the bathtub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A bathtub in accordance with claim 4 comprising a latching means for holding the rotatable part stationary; and a liquid level sensing means coupling to release the latching means when the water has drained from the bathtub.