US3528112A - Combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly - Google Patents

Description

P. WARNICK Sept. 15, 1970 COMBINED BATHTUB SEAT AND SPRAY HEAD ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1969 INVENTOR. PH/Z/P WARN/CK P. WARNICK Sept. 15, 1970 COMBINED BATHTUB SEAT AND SPRAY HEAD ASSEMBLY INVENTOR. PH/L 1P WARN/C E W y 1 Arm/mew.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14. 1969 p 1970 v P. WARNICK 3,528,112

COMBINED BATHTUB SEAT AND SPRAY HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 14, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Filed Feb. 14, 1969, Ser. No. 799,401 Int. Cl. A47k 3/22 U.S. Cl. 4-185. 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bathing apparatus including a combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly movable as a unit into and out of operative position in a bathtub. The seat has a vertically disposed split annular body with a split horizontally disposed seat on the top edge of the annular body for supporting a person in seated position. The seat has spaced parallel bars extending radially therefrom for hinge connection to the side wall of the bathroom. The spray head assembly is nested in the seat with the spray head below and in line with the opening in the seat for treating the rectal area of the body of a person. The spray head is operatively connected to a source of water supply which connection includes a needle valve and means for rotating the spray head.

cent the bathtub having a shower line associated therewith together with a spray head assembly for directing water spray onto the body of the person sitting on the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bathtub seat of this king of simplified construction combined with a spray head assembly for spraying various portions of the anatomy and especially the rectal area.

A further object of the invention according to a modification thereof is to provide a foot rest associated with a spray head assembly for bathing the feet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly which is quite simple in construction, easy to use, effective for its cleansing operation and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification together with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly embodying the invention shown in operation in a bathtub, the'bathtub being shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary part elevational and part sectional view of the combined seat and spray head assembly on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the combined seat and spray head assembly swung in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 to inoperative storage position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plate for supporting the seat and spray head assembly in inoperative position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spray head rotated to bring the spout to operative position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6 with the spray head to bring the perforated top wall to operative position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a combined foot rest and spray head assembly embodying a modified form of the invention shown in operation, parts being shown in section.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the spray head of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a similar view showing the spray head turned upside down to bring the spout to operative position.

Referring in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1, apparatus of the present invention designated generally as 10 is shown mounted within the confines of a bathtub designated generally as 12. The apparatus 10 comprises a combined bathtub seat assembly 14 and a spray head assembly 16.

The seat assembly 14 as best seen in FIG. 3 comprises a split ring-like body or band 18 continuing into elongated flat spaced bar portions 20 at the free ends thereof. The bar portions 20 extend laterally in the same plane as the plane of the body or band 18 as indicated at 22 and then extend at a slight angle to the plane of the lateral portions 22 as indicated at 23. The bar portions have flat reduced free ends 24 which reduced ends are formed with aligned holes 26. A split annular seat 28 is supported on the top edge of the split body or band 18. The reduced ends of the bar portions are hingedly connerted to a hinge device comprising a pair of spaced perforated ears 30 formed integrally at the apical end of a substantially triangular plate 32 suitably fixed on the bathroom wall 34 above the bathtub 12. A double headed hinge pin 35 extends through the holes 26 in the reduced ends and through the aligned perforations in the ears 30. A pair of opposed cylindrical posts 36 with caps 38 depend from the annular body or band 18 serving as supporting legs for the seat assembly when positioned in the bathtub.

As is usual, the bathtub 12 is provided with a faucet 40 extending through a hole 42 in the plate 32 and with controls for hot and cold water, only one control 44 being shown, which control passes through one of a pair of spaced holes 46 in the plate 32. A U-shaped clip 48 is fixed to the plate 32 along its wide end edge. The legs 50 of the clip diverge and are formed with concave central areas 52.

The spray head assembly 16 includes a frusto-conical housing 54 with a bottom wall 56, side wall 58 and being open at the top. The housing is supported below and centrally of the seat 28 by means of opposed cylindrical arms 62 extending between the housing 54 and body or band 18. A spray head 64 is mounted in the housing 54 and is adapted to be connected to the faucet 40.

The spray head 64 comprises a cylindrical hollow casing having a bottom wall 68 with spout 70, a side wall 72 and a perforated curved top wall 74. A partition wall 76 divides the interior of the casing into compartments 78 and 8 0 An opening 82 is formed in the side wall. The connection between the spray head 64 and the faucet 40 includes a pipe section 84, the passage of water therethrough being controlled by a needle valve 86. One end of the pipe section is closed and is provided with an outlet opening 88. The closed end of the pipe section is formed with an annular groove 90 in whch is seated a gasket 92. The closed end of the pipe section 84 extends through the opening 82 of the side wall with the outlet opening 88 of pipe 84 in the compartment 80. The edge wall of the opening 82 extends loosely into the sealed groove 90 whereby the casing may be rotated. The other end of the pipe section 84 is connected to a hose 94 which in turn is connected to a section of pipe 96 connected to a hose 98 carrying a nozzle 100 for connection to the faucet 40. Pipe section 96 is held centrally of the space between the seat bar portion 20, by means of opposed arms 102, 102 extending from the bar portions and engaging the pipe section.

It will be seen that an apparatus is provided in which the dater distributing spray head 64 is itself held properly positioned with respect to the opening in the seat 28.

When using the apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the controls 44 are within easy reach and the needle valve 86 is within easy reach for turning on the spray head 64 whereupon when the spray head is positioned with the p rforated wall 74 uppermost, as seen in FIG. 2, water will be sprayed over the rectal area. The spray head 64 may be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6 with the spout 70 uppermost, whereupon a stream of water will be discharged against an area of the body of the person being treated. When the apparatus is not in use, the seat and spray head assembly may be swung as a unit in the direction of the arrow, as shown in FIG. 1, to inoperative storage position, as shown in FIG. 4, the clip 48 engaging the bars 20, 20 to hold the unit against displacement.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein the apparatus is used for bathing the feet. Herein, a portable foot rest 106 is positioned on the floor 108 of the bathtub 12a. The foot rest comprises a circular body 110 of wood or the like with a central opening 112 therein. The body is supported on the top ends of a pair of opposed cylindrical legs 114, 114 provided with caps 116, 116 for engagement with the floor. A substantially L-shaped pipe 118 has one end connected to one end of a needle valve 86a, the other end of the needle valve being connected to a hose 98a carrying a nozzle 100 attached to the faucet 40a. A spray head 64a is mounted on the horizontal portion of the L-shaped pipe 118 as viewed in FIG. 8 underneath the opening 112 in the body of the foot rest 106. A spigot 120 with handle 122 is fixed on the free end of the pipe 118. The spray head 64a comprises a cylindical hollow casing having a bottom wall 74a, with a spout 70a, a side wall 72a, and a perforated conical top wall 74a. A partition wall 76a divides the interior of the casing into compartments 70a and 80a. Opposed openings 82a, 82a are formed in the side wall 72a. Gaskets 124 are interposed between the side wall 72a and the pipe 118. Pipe 118 is formed with an outlet opening 126 communicating with compartment 78a.

In use, the foot of the person as shown in FIG. 8 is placed over the opening 112 in the body of the foot rest 110, the spigot 122 is turned on and the needle valve 86a opened whereby a spray of water will issue out of the spray head 64a onto the foot. The spray head may be rotated on pipe 118 so that the spout 70a will project toward the opening 112 in the body 110 of the foot rest for directing a stream of water onto the foot.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined bathtub seat nad spray head assembly construction, comprising a split band continuing at its free ends into a pair of parallel bars; a split annular seat having an opening therein and supported on the top edge of the band; a spray head assembly including a spray head support d by the band centrally of and below the opening in the seat; means for hingedly connecting the ends of the bars to a vertical supporting wall surface; and means 4 for connecting the spray head assembly to a source of water supply.

2. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said spray head assembly includes a housing, the support for the assembly including opposed cylindrical bars extending between the housing and band.

3. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 2, and opposed legs depending from the seat for supporting the seat on the floor of the bathtub.

4. A combined bathtufb seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the parallel bars have reduced free ends, said ends having aligned holes therein, the hinge means including a hinge pin extending through said aligned holes and through aligned soles in a hinged device supported on the wall of the bathroom.

5. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the spray head assembly to a source of water supply includes a pipe section connected to said spray head; a needle valve in said pipe section; a hose connected at one end to the other end of said pipe section; a pipe connected at one end to the other end of said hose; another hose connected at one end to the other end of said pipe; and a nozzle on the other end of said hose for connection to a faucet of a water supply.

6. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for connecting the spray head assembly to a source of water supply includes a pipe section connected to said spray head; a needle valve in said pipe section; a hose connected at one end to the other end of said pipe section; a pipe connected at one end to the other end of said hose; another hose connected at one end to the other end of said pipe; and a nozzle on the other end of said other hose for connection to a faucet of a water supply.

7. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 4, said seat and spray head assembly hingedly swingable as a unit to either operative or inoperative position, the reduced ends of the parallel bars adapted to engage holding means on the bathroom wall for holding the unit against displacement.

8. A combined bathtub seat and spray head assembly construction as defined in claim 1, said spray head assembly including a spray head having a hollow cylindrical body with a bottom wall, side wall and perforated top wall; a spout extending from the center of the bottom wall; a partition wall dividing the interior of the body into top and bottom compartments, the side wall having an opening therein to loosely receive a 'water pipe section with a perforated end wall adapted to be inserted through the opening in the side wall into engagement with the partition wall, said body being adapted to rotate on the inserted end of the pipe for bringing either the top compartment or the bottom compartment into communication with the perforation in the end wall of the pipe.

9. A combined foot rest and spray head assembly construction comprising an annular body for supporting a foot of a person; legs depending from said annular body for supporting the annular body on the floor of a bathtub; a spray head assembly including a pipe connected at one end to a source of Water supply extending underneath the opening in said annular body; a needle valve in said pipe; a spigot on the free end of the pipe; an actuating handle on said spigot; and a spray head mounted on and operatively connected to said pipe and disposed under the opening in the annular body of the foot rest, said spray head having a hollow cylindrical body with a bottom wall, side wall and perforated conical shaped top wall; a spout extending from the center of the bottom wall, said side wall having opposed openings therein; a partition wall dividing the interior of the body into top and bottom compartments, the opposed openings in the side wall 5 adapted loosely to receive a Water pipe section passing through the interior of the body with an outlet opening therein adapted to communicate with either the top compartment or the bottom compartment upon rotation of the body of the spray head thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,406,779 2/1922 Thibadore 4185 2,120,179- 2,177,998 10/1939 Schuette 4-185 6/1962 Gellmann 4-148 12/ 1962 Reavis 4-7 3/ 1963 Pearlman 4-7 2/ 1964 Gellmann 4-148 5 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner 46, 7, 148 6/1938 Hackart 4-185 1 US. Cl. X.R.

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