Patent GB-1334514-A (GB)
Title: Bath with leg cradle
IPC: A47K3/12
Filed: 1970-01-12
Abstract: 1334514 Leg supports for bath users; shower cabinets; clothes-horses E P FRANKLIN 8 Jan 1971 [ 12 Jan 1970] 1398/70 Heading A4N and A4U A bath has in combination therewith a leg cradle for supporting a leg of the user, the bath and leg cradle being provided with co-acting locating means whereby the leg cradle may be removably located relative to the bath in a selected one of a plurality of fixed positions at different distances from one end of the bath, the said locating means comprising either a key 10 on the leg cradle and a plurality of key-ways (7, )Fig. 2 (not shown), at at least one side of the bath, for selectively receiving the key 10 on the leg cradle, or conversely. In the embodiment of Fig.3 the sides 3, 3' of the bath are formed with recesses 4,4' and the key-ways (7) are provided in upstanding projections 5, 5' located at the mouths of the recesses. The leg cradle is adjustable in height and orientation. The sides 3, 3' of the bath are also formed with recesses (17), (17') and upstanding projections (18), (18') having flat upper surfaces (19), (19') between pairs of stops (20), (20'), to support a removable seat (21), the ends of which fit between the pairs of stops. The base of the bath is formed with a recess (22) to prevent the user from slipping. The front end of the bath may be provided with a heel support, Fig.7 (not shown), of similar construction to the leg cradle described above with the addition of a strap (40) for securing the foot in place. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the recesses are replaced by a step which extends along the sides, or parts of the sides, and across the front of the bath, and a rail extending along the front of the step is formed at suitable places with vertical key-ways and seat-locating surfaces and stops. In a further embodiment (not shown) the bath is formed internally with a single recess extending along the sides and front of the bath and a support member having the required key-ways and seatlocating surfaces and stops. In a modification of the seat (21), Figs. 11, 12 (not shown), the stops (20), (20') are omitted, and the front of the projection 18 is formed with a plurality of vertical grooves (45), (45'). The seat (21) is provided on its underside with locating pins (46), (46') which fit into a selected pair of the grooves (45), (45'). The seat is also provided at its ends with strips (47), (47') which project downwardly behind the projections (18), (18') when the seat is in position. A Shower Cabinet, Fig. 5, used in conjunction with the bath comprises a substantially cylindrical inner shell 24 having a door opening therein and a top, and a substantially cylindrical outer shell 25 with a top 25' which is rotatably mounted on the top of the inner shell 24. The outer shell 25 has an opening which, by rotation of the outer shell, can be brought into and out of register with the door opening in the inner shell 24 so as to open or close the cabinet. Provided in the tops of the inner and outer shells are a plurality of angularly spaced openings (28), (29), Fig. 6 (not shown), respectively, the holes are brought into register by rotation of the outer shell 25 to close the cabinet. A curtain with a rail (not shown) may be provided instead of the outer shell 25. The shower cabinet may be a permanent or removable fittings, and the lower edge of the inner shell may be formed, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to fit over a part circular flange 41 on the rim of the bath. Alternatively, the lower edge may be formed with a slot, Fig. 8 (not shown), for fitting on to a flange (42) on the rim of the bath. Conversely the rim of the bath may be provided with a slot into which the lower edge of the shell 24 fits. The shower cabinet may alternatively be a simple three-sided enclosure with a curtain suspended from a suitable rail. Clothes Horses. In the case of a removable shower cabinet, it may be adapted as a clothes horse, Figs. 9, 10 (not shown). The inner shell 24 is provided on its inner surface with pairs of U- shaped supports (43) arranged for the reception of the ends of rails (44) on which clothes may be hung. Since the rails need to be of different lengths, they may be identified with their supports by colour coding or numbering.