Patent ID: 6336230
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
A lifting assembly for lifting a person in and out of a bathtub, said assembly being positionable on a top peripheral edge of a bathtub, said assembly being removably couplable to a wall, said assembly comprising:a housing, said housing being elongate and having a pair of end walls, a peripheral wall extending between and being integrally coupled to said ends walls, said peripheral wall of said housing having a pair of bends therein, said housing generally having a U-shape taken from a plan view such that a first portion, a middle portion, and a second portion are defined, a bottom wall of said first and second portions having an elongate slit therein; a first tubular member, said first tubular member rotatably mounted in said first portion of said housing, said first tubular member having an axis of rotation orientated generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first portion; a second tubular member, said second tubular member being rotatably mounted in said second portion of said housing, said second tubular member having an axis of rotation orientated generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second portion; a panel, said panel having a first edge positioned opposite of a second edge, said first edge being securely coupled to said first tubular member, said second edge being securely coupled to said second tubular member; a pair of motors, each of said motors being coupled to one of said tubular members, said motors being adapted to rotate said tubular members; and control circuitry for controlling said motors, said control circuitry being operationally coupled to each of said motors; a seat portion comprising a plate being securely attached to a top surface of said panel and generally positioned in said middle portion of said panel; wherein said seat portion comprises a plurality of legs each being securely attached to and extending away from a bottom side of said plate, each of said legs extending through said panel; wherein each of legs has a free end with a suction cup integrally coupled thereto for releasably securing to the bathtub.