Auxiliary bathtub for invalids

Claim 2

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub and for vertical placement during temporary non use at the end of the conventional bathtub opposite the faucet end, and for convenient manipulation between such placements, utilizing rolling and pivoting movement, and for convenient filling and draining by using the faucets and drain of the conventional bathtub, thereby providing an invalid with an opportunity of bathing at a level of the top of the conventional bath and essentially near a normal sitting level in a regular bathroom facility, comprising: a. a frame for receiving upright walls which in turn define a bathing volume and for placement over a conventional bathtub, b. upright end walls defining the ends of the bathing volume, each end wall being secured to the frame c. upright side walls defining the sides of a bathing volume, each side wall being secured to the frame, and at least one side wall being pivotally secured for movement to a horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame; d. a seat secured to the frame and positioned adjacent one end wall substantially in the plane of the frame; and e. a flexible, continuous, and watertight, liner defining a bathing volume draped over the seat, ends walls and side walls, having sufficient material to accommodate the pivoting of one side wall to the horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame and the seat when then the side wall becomes an extension of the seat, the liner being secured at its top to the tops of the end walls and side walls.

Claim 3

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in addition, a fastening subassembly with portions thereof mounted on both the frame and the pivotal side wall, whereby upon pivoting the side wall to its upright position, the fastening subassembly automatically secures the side wall in place, and whereby, upon a movement of hand of the invalid bather alongside the pivotal upright side, the fastening subassembly is released by the invalid, resulting in the pivotal upright side then pivoting to a horizontal position, where it becomes an extension of the seat for the invalids use in getting out of the auxiliary bathtub.

Claim 4

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 2, comprising, in addition, a drain subassemly for securement to the flexible, continuous, and watertight liner at a place removed from the seat, where the liner is not directly supported, except at the top of the side walls, and therefore the liner depends below the seat level at this drain location, facilitating the draining of the auxiliary bathtub, and also during the invalid's bathing providing a more comfortable flexible support for his or her legs and feet in somewhat deeper water.

Claim 5

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 3, comprising, in addition, hoses and fittings, whereby the water available at the conventional bathtub, upon operating the conventional bathtub faucets, is delivered to the bathing volume defined by the liner supported by the end walls and side walls of the auxiliary bathtub.

Claim 6

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub and for vertical placement during temporary non use at the end of the conventional bathtub opposite the faucet end, and for convenient manipulation between such placements, utilizing rolling and pivoting movements, and for convenient filling and draining by using the faucets and drain of the conventional bathtub, thereby providing an invalid with an opportunity of bathting at a level of the top of the conventional bathtub and essentialy near a nomal sitting level in a regular bathroom facility, comprising: a. a frame for receiving upright walls which in turn define a bathing volume and for placement over a conventional bathtub; b. upright end walls defining the ends of a bathing volume, each end wall being secured to the frame; c. upright side walls defining the sides of a bathing volume, each side wall being secured to the frame, and at least one side wall being pivotally secured for movement to a horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame; d. a seat secured to the frame and positioned adjacent one end wall substantially in the plane of the frame; e. a flexible, continuous, and watertight, liner defining a bathing volume draped over the seat, end walls, and side walls, having sufficient material to accommodate the pivoting of one side wall to the horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame and the seat when then the side wall becomes an extension of the seat for an invalid to use in getting to the coplanar seat, the liner being secured at its top to the tops of the end walls and side walls; f. a fastening subassembly with portions thereof mounted on both the frame and the pivotal side wall, whereby upon pivoting the side wall to its upright position, the fastening subassembly automatically secures the side wall in place, and whereby, upon a movement of hand of the invalid bather alongside the pivotal upright side, the fastening subassembly is released by the invalid, resulting in the pivotal upright side then pivoting to a horizontal position, where it becomes an extension of the seat for the invalids use in getting out of the auxiliary bathtub; g. a drain subassembly for securement to the flexible, continuous, and watertight liner at a place removed from the seat, where the liner is not directly supported, except at the top of the side walls, and therefore the liner depends below the seat level at this drain location, facilitating the draining of the auxiliary bathtub, and also during the invalid's bathing providing a more comfortable flexible support for his or her legs and feet in somewhat deeper water; and h. hoses and fittings, whereby the water available to the conventional bathtub, upon operating the conventional bathtub faucets, is delivered to the bathing volume defined by the liner supported by the end walls and side walls of the auxiliary bathtub.

Claim 7

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub and for vertical placement during temporary non use at the end of the conventional bathtub opposite the faucet end, and for convenient manipulation between such placements, utilizing rolling and pivoting movements, and for convenient filling and draining by using the faucets and drain of the conventional bathtub, thereby providing an invalid with an opportunity of bathting at a level of the top of the conventional bathtub and essentialy near a nomal sitting level in a regular bathroom facility, comprising: a. a frame for receiving upright walls which in turn define a bathing volume and for placement over a conventional bathtub; b. upright end walls defining the ends of a bathing volume, each end wall being secured to the frame; c. upright side walls defining the sides of a bathing volume, each side wall being secured to the frame, and at least one side wall being pivotally secured for movement to a horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame; d. a seat secured to the frame and positioned adjacent one end wall substantially in the plane of the frame; e. a flexible, continuous, and watertight, liner defining a bathing volume draped over the seat, end walls, and side walls, having sufficient material to accommodate the pivoting of one side wall to the horizontal position substantially in the plane of the frame and the seat when then the side wall becomes an extension of the seat for an invalid to use in getting to the coplanar seat, the liner being secured at its top to the tops of the end walls and side walls; f. a fastening subassembly with portions thereof mounted on both the frame and the pivotal side wall, whereby upon pivoting the side wall to its upright position, the fastening subassembly automatically secures the side wall in place, and whereby, upon a movement of hand of the invalid bather alongside the pivotal upright side, the fastening subassembly is released by the invalid, resulting in the pivotal upright side then pivoting to a horizontal position, where it becomes an extension of the seat for the invalids use in getting out of the auxiliary bathtub; g. a drain subassembly for securement to the flexible, continuous, and watertight liner at a place removed from the seat, where the liner is not directly supported, except at the top of the side walls, and therefore the liner depends below the seat level at this drain location, facilitating the draining of the auxiliary bathtub, and also during the invalid's bathing providing a more comfortable flexible support for his or her legs and feet in somewhat deeper water; and h. hoses and fittings, whereby the water available to the conventional bathtub, upon operating the conventional bathtub faucets, is delivered to the bathing volume defined by the liner supported by the end walls and side walls of the auxiliary bathtub.

Claim 8

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 5, comprising, in addition, a lateral roller rotatably secured to the frame at the seat end of the auxiliary bathtub, whereby this bathtub is conveniently rolled to and from the facuet end of the conventional bathtub and also this bathtub is conveniently pivoted upwardly to a vertical non use position on the conventional bathtub at the end opposite the facuet and, clearing the access to the conventional bathtub.

Claim 9

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 5, comprising, in addition, a pair of parallel and spaced laterally directed positioning subassemblies secured to the frame and each having depending paired positioners of adjustable spacing to fit snugly on the respecitve outer and inner sides of the side wall of a conventional bathtub, whereby the auxiliary bathtub is firmly positioned laterally in its horizontal use position on the conventional bathtub.

Claim 10

A auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 6, comprising, in addition, a pair of parallel and spaced laterally directed positioning subassemblies secured to the frame and each having depending paired positioners of adjustable spacing to fit snugly on the respective outer and inner sides of the side wall of a conventional bathtub, whereby the auxiliary bathtub is firmly positioned laterally in its horizontal use position on the conventional bathtub.

Claim 11

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frame is composed of two portions longitudinally spaced, one portion of a smaller longitudinal length positioned at the faucet end of the auxiliary bathtub, and the other portion of a longer longitudinal length to also provide the invalid seating space, and upon the securement of the side walls these two frame portions become permanently spaced apart and define an overall frame for the auxiliary bathtub.

Claim 12

An auxiliary bathtub for horizontal placement to be used on the top of a conventional bathtub, as claimed in claim 9, wherein both of the side walls are pivotally secured to be lowered to a horizontal position, and the liner is provided with sufficient material to reach a completely planar configuration when both of the side walls are lowered to their horizontal positions, thereby making the auxiliary bathtub easily cleaned in this planar configuration, and also making the auxiliary bathtub useful in various bathrooms where the access to the conventional bathtub may be from respective opposite longitudinal sides.