Patent ID: 8181285
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
1. A shower/bath seat system convertible between a deployed orientation for use and a collapsed orientation for storage, the system comprising, in combination: a seat assembly including a generally rectilinear primary section having a primary face and a primary peripheral side wall, the seat assembly also including a generally rectilinear secondary section having a secondary face and a secondary peripheral side wall, the secondary face and the secondary peripheral side wall adapted to telescopically stretch and reduce in size, the primary and secondary faces each having an inner surface and an outer surface, said each primary and secondary face being rectangular with four corners and with interior edges and exterior edges and front edges and rear edges, a linear hinge coupling the primary and secondary side walls at the interior edges for allowing movement between the deployed orientation with the primary and secondary faces in an essentially common plane and the collapsed orientation with the primary and secondary faces in spaced relationship and with the peripheral side walls in facing contact to form an entirely enclosed chamber between the primary and secondary faces, the hinge being formed of P-shaped sections secured to one of the primary or secondary peripheral side walls, a linear rod pivotally supporting the P-shaped sections, the hinge being restricted to a 90 degree open position whereby the primary and secondary faces are in an essentially common plane, arcuate tubes above the hinge for effecting a ratchet-like opening; four primary legs pivotally secured to the primary face adjacent to its corners between the primary peripheral side wall, two secondary legs pivotally secured to the secondary face adjacent to said exterior edge between the secondary peripheral side wall, the legs being pivotable between a collapsed, orientation parallel with and adjacent to the primary and secondary faces entirely within the enclosed chamber between the primary and secondary peripheral side walls and a deployed orientation perpendicular to the primary and exterior faces, the primary legs being positionable within a bathtub when in the deployed orientation during use with the secondary legs positioned outside of the bathtub, each of the legs having an elastomeric cap, each of the legs having a first spring ball and aligned holes for length adjusting purposes, the distance between the interior and exterior edges of the primary section being greater than twice the length of each primary leg; water draining apertures in the primary face and an elongated recess along the rear edge of the primary face, a back support having a lower region positionable in the elongated recess, an upper region there above for supporting a user, vertical rods coupling the upper and lower regions, said vertical rod having a second spring ball and aligned holes for height adjusting purposes, the back support adapted to be stored adjacent to the inner surface of the secondary section when in the collapsed orientation, a supplemental elongated recess along the primary face for receiving the lower region, additional recesses in the primary face for removably receiving articles such as a bar of soap; a supplemental recess along the exterior edge of the primary face, an arm support having a lower region positionable in the supplemental recess, an upper region there above for supporting the user, vertical rods coupling the upper and lower regions, each said vertical rod having a third spring ball and aligned holes for height adjusting purposes, the arm support adapted to be stored adjacent to the inner surface of the primary section when in the collapsed orientation, spring urged retainers on the inner surfaces of the primary and secondary faces for removably retaining the back and arm supports and legs in a collapsed orientation; side holes in the primary and secondary peripheral side walls adjacent to the exterior edges of the primary and secondary peripheral side walls, handles having posts reciprocally received within the side holes, said each of the handles having a grip coupling the posts for carrying purposes when in the collapsed orientation; a locking pin extending outwardly from the peripheral side wall, of the exterior edge of the primary section and a hook-shaped latch pivotally secured to the secondary peripheral side wall, the latch adapted to couple and uncouple with respect to the locking pin; and a belt removably attached to the back support for removably retaining the user to the primary section and the back support in a safe manner.