Bathroom assembly for handicapped individuals

Claim 1

A bathtub including (a) a tub having a multi-level floor and a surrounding wall having an interior portion for holding a quantity of water and a top portion extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said interior portion, said floor including (i) a first level for supporting a bather's feet, (ii) a second level lower than said first level for a bather to sit on, and, (iii) a sloped surface interconnecting said first and second levels to support a bather's thighs when the bather is sitting on said second level with his feet on said first level, said sloped surface impeding a bather's buttocks and thighs from sliding over said floor of the tub toward said first level when the bather is sitting on said second level; (b) a support surface abutting adjacent to and extending away from said tub for a bather to position a wheelchair on; (c) an opening in said tub wall located above said first level and said support surface and extending from the top portion of said wall downwardly a selected distance toward said first level for permitting a bather seated in a wheelchair setting on said support surface to transfer himself from said wheelchair to a seated position in said opening; (d) at least one hand rail means attached to and extending along the top portion of said wall and reachable by a bather sitting on said second level and by a bather sitting on said ledge means; (e) a shower stall adjacent said tub and having access opening means in communication with said opening and having a shower stall floor which comprises said support surface; (f) a wheelchair accessway formed in said shower stall; (g) a faucet means mounted with respect to said tub and shower stall to have at least two operative positions, (i) a first operative position for directing water into said tub, and (ii) a second operative position for directing water into said shower stall, and, (h) valve means for directing water into said faucet; said valve means being positioned to be reached and operated by an individual seated in (i) a wheel chair outside of said tub and said shower stall without the bather having to reach out over said floor or said support surface to operate said valve means; (j) a wheel chair inside of said shower stall; (k) said opening in said tub wall; and, (l) said tub.