Patent Publication Number: US-2019183293-A1

Title: Portable shower and bath chair system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 62/607,280 filed 18 Dec. 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of bathing accessories of existing art and more specifically relates to a portable bathing chair to provide assistance in a bathtub. 
     RELATED ART 
     Many people, including the elderly and people with limited mobility and strength, are not be able to physically lift their legs up and over the side of a bathtub to bath and shower. Such individuals may require assistance from another person, but this can be embarrassing and can take a toll on their self-confidence. Others may attempt to go over the edge of the bathtub without help, resulting in slips and falls, which can lead to debilitating injuries. A suitable solution is desired. 
     Previous attempts to solve this problem include U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,445 to Bernard B. Bailey relating to a shower bath chair for use in conjunction with a bath tub. The described shower bath chair for use in conjunction with a bath tub includes a shower assembly which can be used in conjunction with normal household bathing facilities while minimizing the disruption for normal use of the facility. The assembly includes a track to support the chair above the bath, and suspension means for the chair which permits linear movement along the track and rotary movement whereby the chair can face outwardly when being engaged and exited by user. The chair seat is dished to trap water therein to cleanse the seated areas of the user, and a fresh water supply is arranged directly into the seat area to rinse the seated areas. 
     The previous attempt can be heavy and bothersome, particularly when mounting and removing the chair. It would be difficult to install, particularly for people having limited mobility and elderly individuals. Therefore, a suitable solution is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known bath chair art, the present disclosure provides a novel portable shower and bath chair system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a portable shower and bath chair system for use in combination with a bathtub having a longitudinal wall and transverse walls. 
     A portable shower and bath chair system is disclosed herein. The portable shower and bath chair system includes a chair having an under-side and a top-side. The chair includes a seat, a back, a pair of side-walls, and a leg rest. A concave-channel may further be integrated in the chair on the under-side between the leg rest and the seat. The concave-channel may be used as one of the components for fitting the chair on the bathtub. The under-side of the chair may be configured to rest upon the bathtub with the concave-channel placed along a ledge of one of the transverse walls. 
     The chair may further include a support assembly including a base having a first-side and a second-side. The base may be mounted on the under-side of the seat on the first-side, and a pair of legs are coupled to the base on the second-side. The support assembly may be used as another component for fitting the chair on the bathtub. The pair of legs may be configured to contact the longitudinal wall in an interior of the bathtub such that adequate support is given to the other side of the chair opposite the concave-channel. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of using a portable shower and bath chair system is also disclosed herein. The method includes providing a portable shower and bath chair system as described above and fitting the chair on the bathtub with the concave-channel resting on a ledge of one of the transverse walls and the pair of legs resting on the longitudinal wall in an interior of the bathtub. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a portable shower and bath chair system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system in a foldable configuration of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a portable shower and bath chair system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to bathing accessories and more particularly to a portable shower and bath chair system and method as used to aid users in bathing and showering, particularly users that have mobility issues. 
     Generally, the present invention provides a safe and convenient way for people to shower without having to stand. As designed, it alleviates the hassle of swinging the bather&#39;s legs up and over the edge of a bathtub to get in and out. The device effectively eliminates the need for help or assistance from another person. It may save a considerable amount of time and frustration when bathing or showering. The chair can be placed anywhere on the edge of the bathtub, not just by the faucet or water supply. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a portable shower and bath chair system  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a portable shower and bath chair system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the portable shower and bath chair system  100  may be beneficial for use to aid a user  40  in bathing and showering. portable shower and bath chair system  100  may be configured to be used in combination with a bathtub  5  having a longitudinal wall  10  and transverse walls  15 . As illustrated, the portable shower and bath chair system  100  may include a chair  110  having an under-side  111  and a top-side  112 . The chair  110  includes a seat  113 , a back  114 , a pair of side-walls  115 , and a leg rest  116 . Preferably the seat  113  may be padded for comfort, but other parts of the chair  110  may be padded where applicable. The pair of side-walls  115  extend as a perimeter along the back  114 , the seat  113 , and the leg rest  116  and is configured to prevent liquid from escaping the confines of the chair  110 . In some embodiments, the seat  113 , the back  114 , the pair of side-walls  115 , and the leg rest  116  may be a one-piece construction, as illustrated. 
     A concave-channel  117  may further be integrated in the chair  110  on the under-side  111  between the leg rest  116  and the seat  113 . The concave-channel  117  may be used as one of the components for fitting the chair  110  on the bathtub  5 . The under-side  111  of the chair  110  may be configured to rest upon the bathtub  5  with the concave-channel  117  placed along a ledge of one of the transverse walls  15 . 
     Another aspect of the chair  110  may include a seat belt  166  extending from either side of the seat  113 . The seat belt  166  is adjustable to fit around a variety of users  40 . Adjustments may be made through a number of means, such as fasteners (i.e., buckles, loops, etc.). The seat belt  166  further includes a clasp  168  for securing the user  40  into the chair  110 . 
     The chair  110  may further include a support assembly  120  including a base  122  having a first-side  124  and a second-side  125 . The base  122  may be mounted on the under-side  111  of the seat  113  on the first-side  124 , and a pair of legs  126  are coupled to the base  122  on the second-side  125 . The support assembly  120  may be used as another component for fitting the chair  110  on the bathtub  5 . The pair of legs  126  may be configured to contact the longitudinal wall  10  in an interior of the bathtub  5  such that adequate support is given to the other side of the chair  110  opposite the concave-channel  117 . 
     The portable shower and bath chair system  100  further includes a means for supplying and draining a liquid solution (e.g., mixture of soap and water, only water, only soap, etc.) to and from the chair  110 . The means including a plurality of perforations  130  within the leg rest  116  and the back  114 . 
     According to one embodiment, the portable shower and bath chair system  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . In particular, the portable shower and bath chair system  100  may further include a set of instructions  107 . The instructions  107  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the portable shower and bath chair system  100  such that the portable shower and bath chair system  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner. 
     A detachable spray head  150  may be included and used with the portable shower and bath chair system  100 . The detachable spray head  150  includes a spray head connector  152  for coupling the detachable spray head  150  to the water supply. The spray head connector  152  may include components (not shown) such as a hose, water spigot coupler, and a hanger (e.g., suction cup and hook) for hanging the detachable spray head  110  on an external surface of the bathtub  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the portable shower and bath chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the portable shower and bath chair system  100  may include the chair  110  having the under-side  111  and the top-side  112 . The chair  110  includes the seat  113 , the back  114 , the pair of side-walls  115 , and the leg rest  116 . The concave-channel  117  may further be integrated in the chair  110  on the under-side  111  between the leg rest  116  and the seat  113 . The portable shower and bath chair system  100  further includes the support assembly  120  including the base  122  having the first-side  124  and the second-side  125 . The base  122  may be mounted on the under-side  111  of the seat  113  on the first-side  124 , and the pair of legs  126  are coupled to the base  122  on the second-side  125 . 
     The portable shower and bath chair system  100  further includes the means for supplying and draining the liquid solution to and from the chair  110 . The means including the plurality of perforations  130  within the leg rest  116  and the back  114 . The plurality of perforations  130  may be coupled to a water hook-up, a soap hook-up (not shown), and a user control unit  138  for supplying the liquid solution. The water hook-up can be controlled by the user control unit  138  and is configured to provide water to the plurality of perforations  130  from a water supply. The soap hook-up can also be controlled by the user control unit  138  and is configured to provide soap to the plurality of perforations  130  from a soap supply. The water hook-up and the soap hook-up may include tubing situated within the chair  110  with connectors for coupling to the water supply and the soap supply, respectively. The water supply may be from any water outlet (e.g. faucet) in the bathtub  5 . 
     The plurality of perforations  130  may be coupled to a plumbing means  140  for draining the liquid solution (or water) from the chair  110 . The plumbing means  140  can also be controlled by the user control unit  138 . The plumbing means  140  includes a drain  142  integrated in the chair  110  for draining the liquid solution from the plumbing means  140  and into the bathtub  5 . The direction of the liquid solution through the plumbing means  140  is illustrated in the arrows. Forcing the liquid solution to overcome gravity out through the drain  142  and into the bathtub  5  can be accomplished in a number of ways, such as a pump (not shown). 
     The user control unit  138  may be utilized to adjust when the plurality of perforations  130  are supplying or draining the liquid solution. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of plumbing connections, communication of fluids as described herein, methods of switching between suppling and draining liquids will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art. Such methods can include the use of a valve that opens/closes access from the water hook-up, the soap hook-up, and the plumbing means  140 . Alternatively, some of the plurality of perforations  130  may be used for supplying the liquid solution while the other half of the plurality of perforations  130  may be used for draining the liquid solution. Methods may vary. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The back  114  of the chair  110  includes an angle adjustment mechanism  160  for reclining the back  114  in relation to the support assembly  120 . The angle adjustment mechanism  160  may include a catch  162  mounted on the under-side  111  of the back  114  and one or more grooves  164  along the first-side  124  of the base  122 . The catch  162  may be configured to be retained within one of the grooves  164  to maintain a desired angle such that the back  114  can be suitably reclined when desired. 
     Another aspect of the present invention (not illustrated) may allow for the seat  113  to slide back and forth along the support assembly  120 . This may be enabled via tracks or other means attached along the first-side  124  the support assembly  120  such that the seat  113  can slide back and forth along the tracks. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portable shower and bath chair system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Another aspect of the portable shower and bath chair system  100  provides a system which is easily portable and lightweight. In one embodiment, the chair  110  may include a foldable configuration  180  with the back  114  and the leg rest  116  folding inwards towards the seat  113 . The chair  110  may fold via pivotable points between the back  114  and the seat  113 , and the leg rest  116  and the seat  113 . Alternatively, one or more parts of the chair  110  can be removable or otherwise disengaged from the chair  110 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention may provide for a headrest  170 . The headrest  170  may be removably attachable to the back  114  of the chair  110 . The headrest  170  may be padded and be adjustable around the back  114 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for using a portable shower and bath chair system  500 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using the portable shower and bath chair system  500  may include one or more components or features of the portable shower and bath chair system  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method for using the portable shower and bath chair system  500  may include the steps of: step one  501 , providing a portable shower and bath chair system  100  including a chair  110  having an under-side  111  and a top-side  112 , the chair  110  including a seat  113 , a back  114 , a pair of side-walls  115 , and a leg rest  116 , the chair  110  further including and a concave-channel  117  on the under-side  111  between the leg rest  116  and the seat  113 , a support assembly  120  including a base  122  having a first-side  124  and a second-side  125 , the base  122  is mounted on the under-side  111  of the seat  113  on the first-side  124 , and a pair of legs  126  are coupled to the base  122  on the second-side  125 ; step two  502 , fitting the chair  110  on the bathtub  5  with the concave-channel  117  resting on a ledge of one of the transverse walls  15  and the pair of legs  126  resting on the longitudinal wall  10  in an interior of the bathtub  5 . The portable shower and bath chair system  100  further includes a means for supplying and draining a liquid solution to/from the chair  110 . The means including a plurality of perforations  130  within the leg rest  116  and the back  114 . The method, further including the steps of: step three  503 , activating the means for supply and draining the liquid solution via a user control unit  138  such that the liquid solution is dispensed and then drained away from the chair  110  through the plurality of perforations  130 . 
     It should be noted that step three  503  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the portable shower and bath chair system  100  (NOTE: e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.