Bathtub aid for handicapped

Claim 1

A device for transporting a patient to a bathtub and for supporting the patient in the bathtub during bathing, said device comprising an elongated generally rectangular frame including first and second side runs, a foot run and a head run, with said foot run being generally co-planar with said side runs to minimize the height thereof when said device is supported in a bathtub, a web connected to said runs to support a patient thereon and the patient's legs in a generally straight position, said web including a seat portion which forms a pocket extending substantially below the side runs and including means for loading the appliance and patient into a bathtub without requiring the attendant to handle the entire load, said means comprising a U-shaped fulcrum frame which surrounds the pocket to protect the hips of the patient and has a lower fulcrum run for supporting the device and patient on the rim of a tub for pivoting the frame about a vertical axis to swing the foot of the frame and the patient from a first position with the feet of the patient outside the tub to a second position with the foot of the frame in the tub and to support the patient in an inclined position in the tub, and support means on said fulcrum bar projecting rearwardly therefrom to minimize forward slippage of said device during swinging movement of said device while supported on the rim of the tub.

Claim 2

A device for transporting a patient to a bathtub and for supporting the patient in the bathtub during bathing, said device comprising an elongated generally rectangular frame including first and second side runs, a foot run and a head run, with said foot run being generally co-planar with said side runs to minimize the height thereof when said device is supported in a bathtub, a web connected to said runs to support a patient thereon and the patient's legs in a generally straight position, said web including a seat portion which forms a pocket extending substantially below the side runs and including means for loading the appliance and patient into a bathtub without requiring the attendant to handle the entire load, said means comprising a U-shaped fulcrum frame which surrounds the pocket to protect the hips of the patient and has a lower fulcrum run for supporting the device and patient on the rim of a tub for pivoting the frame about a vertical axis to swing the foot of the frame and the patient from a first position with the feet of the patient outside the tub to a second position with the foot of the frame in the tub and to support the patient in an inclined position in the tub, and support means on said fulcrum bar projecting rearwardly therefrom to minimize forward slippage of said device during swinging movement of said device while supported on the rim of the tub.

Claim 8

A device for transporting a patient to a bathtub and for supporting the patient in the bathtub during bathing, said device comprising an elongated generally rectangular frame including telescopically connected tubular foot, center and head frame sections, a web connected to said frame sections to support a patient thereon, said web including a seat portion which forms a pocket extending substantially below the sides of the center frame section, said frame being shaped and proportioned to enable loading the device and patient into a bathtub without requiring the attendant to handle the entire load, including wheels on the foot section, and a U-shaped fulcrum frame portion surrounding said pocket, with the low point of the pocket closely adjacent the fulcrum bar so that the center of gravity of the load is close to the fulcrum bar, with said fulcrum bar affording pivoting the frame about a vertical axis to swing the foot of the frame and the patient from a first position with the feet of the patient outside the tub and a second position with the foot section within the tub, and wherein said appliance and patient are in balance when said fulcrum bar is supported on the rim of a tub.

Claim 9

A device for transporting a patient to a bathtub and for supporting the patient in the bathtub during bathing, said device comprising an elongated generally rectangular frame including telescopically connected tubular foot, center and head frame sections, a web connected to said frame sections to support a patient thereon, said web including a seat portion which forms a pocket extending substantially below the sides of the center frame section, said frame being shaped and proportioned to enable loading the device and patient into a bathtub without requiring the attendant to handle the entire load, including wheels on the foot section, and a U-shaped fulcrum frame portion surrounding said pocket, with the low point of the pocket closely adjacent the fulcrum bar so that the center of gravity of the load is close to the fulcrum bar, with said fulcrum bar affording pivoting the frame about a vertical axis to swing the foot of the frame and the patient from a first position with the feet of the patient outside the tub and a second position with the foot section within the tub, and wherein said appliance and patient are in balance when said fulcrum bar is supported on the rim of a tub.