US4034426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bath tub lift chair apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-09-20
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1996-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for raising and lowering invalids in a bath tub chair having a frame that fits into the bathtub with a chair rockably mounted to the frame. The frame has vertically extending gear racks while the rocking chair has a ratcheting gear attached thereto so that the rocking of the chair can be used to raise or lower the chair by its occupant.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Hardwick
- 👤 Ann Hardwick Smith
- 👤 Kinnaman Browning Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/10; A61G7/1001; A61G7/1011; A61G7/1013; A61G7/1017; A61G7/1019; A61G7/1049; A61G7/1059; A61G7/1003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A bathtub lift chair comprising in combination: a frame having a supporting base; a rockable chair rockably mounted to said frame adapted to be rocked to and fro thereon; and means for raising and lowering said rockable chair responsive to the rocking of said chair by an occupant of said chair whereby an invalid can be lowered or raised in a bathtub by the rocking of said chair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A bathtub lift chair comprising in combination: a frame having a supporting base; a rockable chair rockably mounted to said frame adapted to be rocked to and fro thereon; and means for raising and lowering said rockable chair responsive to the rocking of said chair by an occupant of said chair whereby an invalid can be lowered or raised in a bathtub by the rocking of said chair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for raising and lowering said rockable chair includes a vertically extending rack gear means attached to said frame and forming a part thereof and means of engaging said rack gear for raising said rockable chair thereon responsive to the rocking of said chair.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said means for engaging said rack are cog gears riding therein and attached to said chair and having ratchet gears attached thereto for engaging pawl arms for holding one ratchet and cog gear while a second ratchet and cog gear moves responsive to the movement of said chair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said frame has a supporting base with a plurality of feet attached thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said frame includes at least one handle support mounted thereto for gripping by a patient upon entering or leaving said bathtub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said frame includes a pair of elongated base members connected by a pair of transverse connecting braces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus in accodance with claim 6 in which a pair of U-shaped frame members are fixedly attached to said supporting base and have supporting handles on the top portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said U-shaped frame members have a rack on each vertically extending member surrounded by a sleeve and each sleeve is connected by a shaft through said rockable chair to a second said sleeve and each said sleeve has each said ratchet and cog gear mounted thereto by said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which said pawl arms are connected by at least one shaft through said chair and engages each said ratchet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which one said pawl arm is connected by two shafts to the pawl arm on the opposite side of said chair and has a handle attached thereto for adjusting the position of said pawl arm for releasing said ratchet and cog gears in one position and to engage at least one said ratchet and cog gear in said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which each said pawl arm locks one ratchet when rocked in one direction while freeing a second said ratchet whereby said chair may be raised by a rocking motion repetitively locking one ratchet while freeing and lifting the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which said handle is connected to at least one braking band connecting said shafts attached to each said sleeve whereby movement of said handle will pull said shafts towards each other and said sleeves against said vertically extending frame members to brake said chair.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which said rockable chair has chair frame members having slots therein for slidably holding each said shaft connected to said sleeves to said rockable chair to allow said chair to rock as said shafts slide in said chair frame member slots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |