Abstract:
A bathing chair gives a user maximum comfort and versatility while using the device. The bathing chair has a rotatable seat with a reclining back member and a reclining leg member attached thereto. A roller assembly attachable to a hand rail prevents the bathing chair from tipping over. Conduits disposed within the seat member and the back member allow warm water to be channeled therethrough in order to provide heating for the user. A waste pan and a cart are removably attachable to the bathing chair.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multifunction bathing chair used in bathtubs and showers. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     The utility of providing a chair for use by the physically challenged or the infirm while within a bathtub or shower environment has long been known. Many bathtub and shower chairs can be found in the art. However, such prior art devices have one or more drawbacks. 
     Many prior art devices have limited utility beyond providing the seating function making such devices relatively less versatile. On the other hand, some devices are unusually complex in design making these relatively expensive to build and maintain. Still other bathing chairs are unduly difficult to operate. These chairs are intimidating to the targeted users requiring the users to employ a skilled worker which is generally not feasible for chairs that are used in home as opposed to institutional settings. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a chair used in a bathtub or shower environment that overcomes the drawbacks found in prior art devices. Such a chair must have a range of functionality and must be relatively simple in design and operation and must be usable by most individuals unassisted. Ideally, such a bathtub and shower chair will also provide functionality to a caregiver if one is employed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The bathing chair of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The bathing chair is a multifunctional chair for use in either a bathtub or a shower environment. The bathing chair is of relatively simple design and construction and is made using standard manufacturing techniques. The device is relatively simple to operate and can be used by most individuals unassisted. If a caregiver is providing assistance, the device is user-friendly to the caregiver. 
     The bathing chair of the present invention is comprised of a base having a a first side, a second side, a front, a back, a top, and a bottom. A plurality of first legs extend downwardly from the bottom of the base. A seat is attached to the top of the base. An arm extends outwardly from the first side of the base while a pair of generally parallel oriented rollers are attached to an end of the arm, the rollers adapted to encompass a guide rail therebetween. The seat may be rotatably attached to the base. The seat is comprised of a seat member and a back member wherein the back member is pivotally attached to the seat member. A head rest may be attached to the back member. A first conduit is disposed within the seat member, the first conduit having a first inlet port adapted to be attached to a source of pressurized water, and a first outlet port while a second conduit is disposed within the back member, the second conduit having a second inlet port adapted to be attached to the source of pressurized water, and a second outlet port. The first outlet port may be fluid flow connected to the second inlet port (or the second outlet port may be fluid flow connected to the first inlet port). A first opening is disposed within the base while a second opening is disposed within the seat and corresponds with the first opening. A pair of rails are attached to the bottom of the base in spaced apart fashion on opposing sides of the first opening and a pan is slidably disposed on the pair of rails. A plurality of first castors are each attached to a respective one of the plurality of first legs. A leg member is pivotally attached to the front of the seat. A cart having a plurality of second legs, is attached to the second side of the base. A plurality of second castors, are each attached to a respective one of the plurality of first legs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, partially exploded, of the bathing chair of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially exploded, of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 3 a  is a top plan view of the base of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a front elevation view of the base of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 3 c  is a side elevation view of the base of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 3 d  is a bottom plan view of the base of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 4 a  is a top plan view of the first plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 4 b  is a front elevation view of the first plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 4 c  is a bottom plan view of the first plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 5 a  is a top plan view of the second plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 5 b  is a front elevation view of the second plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 5 c  is a bottom plan view of the second plate member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 6 a  is a front elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 6 b  is a side elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 6 c  is a rear elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 7 a  is a front elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 7 b  is a side elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 7 c  is a rear elevation view of the back member of the bathing chair. 
     FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the roller and spindle system of the hand rails. 
     FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the tongue and groove system of the hand rails. 
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the bathing chair of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a base  12  having a a first side  14 , a second side  16 , a front  18 , a back  20 , a top  22  and a bottom  24 . A plurality of first legs  26  extend downwardly from the bottom  24  of the base  12 . A plurality of first castors  28  may be attached to the first legs  26 , one castor  28  per leg  26 . A seat member  30  is attached to the top  22  of the base  12 . An arm  32  extends outwardly from the first side  14  of the base  12  while a pair of generally parallel oriented rollers  34  are attached to respective spindles  36   a  and  36   b  located on an end of the arm  32 , the rollers  34  adapted to engage the top and bottom of a guide rail found within a bathing environment. The rollers  34  prevent the device  10  from tipping and allow the device  10  to move back and forth along the guide rail. The upper spindle  36   a  is bolted to the lower spindle  36   b  in order to allow rapid engagement and disengagement of the two spindles  36   a  and  36   b  to one another. As seen, the arm  32  may be comprised of a plurality of leg sections in order to raise the position of the rollers  34  above the point of arm  32  attachment to the base  12  for proper engagement with the guide rail. 
     The seat member  30  may be rotatably attached to the base  12 . The rotatable attachment of the seat member  30  to the base  12  can take any form known in the art. As seen, the lower portion of the seat member  30  is comprised of a first plate member  38  that has a ring case  40  located on the bottom surface  42  thereof. The ring case  40  is positioned over top and engaged with a bearing ring  44  located on the top surface  22  of the base  12 . The engaged structure allows the first plate member  38  to rotate with respect to the base  12  about the bearing ring  44 . A pair of rails  46  are located on the top surface  48  of the first plate member  38  while a second plate member  50  has a pair of extensions  52  on its bottom surface  54 , the extensions  52  being removably receivable within the pair of rails  46  located on the first plate member  38 . Sliding the extensions  52  into the rails  46  couples the second plate member  50  with the first plate member  38 . The top surface  56  of the second plate member  50  acts as the actual seating surface for a user and may be padded. 
     A series of corresponding openings are located on the base  12 , the first plate member  38 , and the second plate member  50 . A pair of parallel disposed flanges  58  are located on the bottom surface  24  of base  12 . A pan  60  is removably receivable between the pair of flanges  58  and is positioned over the openings in order to act as a toilet pan for a user. The pan  50  can be quickly removed for emptying and cleaning. A first conduit  62  is disposed within the second plate member  50 , the first conduit  62  having an inlet port  64  that is adapted to be attached to a source of pressurized water and an outlet port  66 . 
     A back member  68 , which may also be padded, is pivotally attached to the seat member  30 . The back member  68  reclines as desired. A pair of hand rails  70  are attached to the seat member  30  and to the back member  68  and have a tongue  72  and groove system  74  in order to hold the back member  68  is the desired position of recline. In order to change a position of recline of the back member  68 , the upper arm  76  of the hand rail  70  is lifted and the back member  68  is positioned as desired. Thereafter the upper arm  76  is lowered and the tongue  72  on the flange plate  78  that is attached to the lower arms  80  is positioned into corresponding groove  74  located on the lower surface of the upper arm  76 , thereby holding the back member  68  in place. One-way ramps  82  can be located between adjacent grooves  74  so that movement of the back member  68  in one direction (e.g. raising the back member  68 ) is relatively easy compared to movement of the back member  68  in the opposite direction. A head rest  84  may be attached to the back member  68  and may be adjustable. A second conduit  86  is disposed within the back member  68 , and has an inlet port  88  and an outlet port  90 . The inlet port  88  of the this second conduit  86  is either connected to a source of pressurized water or is fluid flow connected to the outlet port  66  of the first conduit  62  disposed within the second plate member  50  (or alternately, the outlet port  90  of the second conduit  86  can be fluid flow connected to the inlet port  64  of the first conduit  62  and the inlet port  88  of the second conduit  86  is connected to the source of pressurized water. 
     A leg member  92  is pivotally attached to the seat member  30 . A hinge element  94  is attached to the back surface  96  of the leg member  92  and to the forward positioned first legs  26  in order to hold the leg member  92  in various positions of recline. A pair of foot extensions  98  is attached to the front surface  100  of the leg member  92  in order to receive the feet of a user. 
     A cart  102  may be removably attached to the second side  16  of the base  12  by any appropriate coupling means, the cart  102  having a top plate  104  and a plurality of second legs  106  extending downwardly therefrom. A plurality of second castors  108  may be attached to the second legs  106 , one castor  108  per leg  106 . 
     In order to use bathing chair  10  of the present invention, the device  10  is positioned within a bathing environment such as a bathtub or shower. The upper spindle  36   a  is disengaged from the lower spindle  36   b  and the rollers  34  engage the guide rail found within the bathing environment. Thereafter, the two spindles  36   a  and  36   b  are re-engaged to one another. The seat member  30  is rotated so as to permit a user to comfortably enter the device  10  and be seated thereon. The seat member  30  is then counterrotated back into position for proper bathing position. The device  10  is rolled into position as desired. The back member  68  and the leg member  92  are each positioned for maximum user comfort. If the head rest  84  is adjustable, it too is adjusted as desired. If desired, a pan  60  is positioned between the flanges  58  underneath the openings. The inlet port of the first conduit  62  and/or the second conduit  86  (depending on configuration) is attached to a source of pressurized water with the water being at a comfortable temperature for the user. As the water passes through the conduits  62  and  86 , the heat is transferred to the user. The water can be discharged through the appropriate outlet port  66  or  90  and is allowed to be drained through the bathtub or shower drain. If needed, the cart  102  is attached to the base  12  and is used by either the user of the bathing chair  10  or by a caregiver. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.