Patent Publication Number: US-2004051365-A1

Title: Transfer bench

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to bath safety products and, more particularly, to a bench that is adapted to be used in and around bathtubs and/or showers.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] To maintain good bodily hygiene, frequent showers and baths are necessary. A number of people find it necessary to sit while showering because, for example, they cannot stand, they are unable to stand for an extended period of time, or they have difficulty standing on a slick surface. In such instances, a shower aid can help a person transfer in and out of the bathtub. For example, elderly people will often sit on a shower seat while taking a shower. This lessens the chances that the person taking the shower will slip and injure himself or herself during showering or getting in and out of the bathtub.  
       [0005] There are problems with conventional shower seats. For example, conventional seats do not adequately inhibit water from flowing outside the tub.  
       [0006] Another problem is that conventional seats do not permit the case of transport of soap and other body cleaning items to and from the seat. Further, conventional seats locate these items in inconvenient locations.  
       [0007] Another problem is that conventional shower seats have load ratings which are below the maximum expected load that a seat can experience during its lifetime. Further, conventional shower seats experience short fatigue life, as well as short appearance life, as they are made from material that is both difficult to clean and is subject to fading and/or corrosion.  
       [0008] Another problem is that conventional shower seats place too much reliance on the end-user for assembly and place too much reliance on the end-user to ensure that the seat is configured safely.  
       [0009] Another problem is that conventional seats have a number of components that are not ergonomically attached to the seat, thus promoting injury to the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] An aspect of the present invention relates to a bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower. The bench can include a seating surface, a support for supporting the seating surface, and a restraining member configured to restrain a shower curtain when the bench is disposed at least partly within a bathtub. The restraining member includes a drain configured to direct liquid into the bathtub while the restraining member restrains the shower curtain.  
       [0011] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower. The bench can include a seating surface, a support for supporting the seating surface, a handle adjacent the seating surface, and a soap dish disposed substantially under the handle.  
       [0012] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a bench for use with at least one of a bathtub and a shower. The bench can include a first seating surface, a support for supporting the first seating surface, a pad including foam that can be positioned on the first seating surface to provide a second seating surface, and connectors that maintain the pad in position on the first seating surface. The connectors can be connected, disconnected, and reconnected such that the pad can be positioned on the first seating surface, removed from the first seating surface, and reconnected to the first seating surface, respectively. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bench according to the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bench of FIG. 1, conceptually showing the components that make up the bench.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the bench of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0017] Reference will now be made in detail to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
     [0018] FIGS.  1 - 3  show a preferred embodiment of a bench  10  for use with a bathtub and/or shower according to the present invention. The bench  10  can be a universal transfer bench. In this embodiment, the bench  10  includes a first seating surface  20  (see FIG. 2) and a support  40  for supporting the first seating surface  20 .  
     [0019] The first seating surface  20  is intended to provide an area upon which a person can sit. The first seating surface  20  can include a platform  21  that is generally rectangular in shape, with curved, rounded edges. In the preferred embodiment, the platform  21  has bulbous portions  22  and  23  ergonomically positioned. The platform  21  preferably is made from molded plastic, such as high modulus polypropylene, and is the component of the bench to which other components are attached. In the preferred embodiment, the platform  21  has a hollow underside with molded ribbing  24  (see FIG. 3) to provide support, although the invention can be practiced without ribbing  24 , with just a portion of the underside being hollow, or with a solid platform  21 .  
     [0020] The support  40  supports the first seating surface  20 . The support  40  can include, for example, four legs  41 , although more or less legs could be used. These legs  41  can be molded plastic tubes, such as high modulus polypropylene, of hollow construction. Solid legs can be used as well. The legs  41  preferably are of a sufficient length to allow the end-user to comfortably sit on the bench and comfortably mount the bench. The legs  41  also are of sufficient length to provide clearance over the lip of a bathtub if the bench  10  is placed with one or more legs inside the bathtub.  
     [0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the legs  41  can incorporate adjusters  42 , which allow the lengths of the legs  41  to be individually adjusted for stabilization and to adjust the height of the bench  10 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes adjusters  42  which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,068, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention can be practiced with another type of adjuster or even without adjusters.  
     [0022] The legs  41  have rounded bottoms  43 , which are made from soft rubber, such as Vyram. Other bottoms that can interface with bathtub floors, bathroom floors, and shower floors also can be used.  
     [0023] The legs  41  preferably are attached to the platform  21 . A leg attachment fitting  30  (also referred to as a molded in leg attachment socket) preferably is molded into each corner of the platform  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the fittings  30  are located at the perimeter of the first seating surface  20  of the platform  21 . However, the invention can be practiced with the fittings  30  inside or outside the perimeter of the first seating surface  20  of the platform  21 . The leg attachment fittings  30  of the preferred embodiment are female connectors with a circular cross-sectional shape, although male connectors and different cross-sectional shapes could be used. Each leg attachment fitting  30  has a hole  31  on the side. The leg attachment fittings  30  each also can have an alignment structure, such as a groove (not shown) formed on the internal side wall of the leg attachment fitting  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the groove is aligned axially inside the fitting  30 . The groove can be slightly tapered to form a funnel shape.  
     [0024] The legs  41  have structure that mates with the holes  31  and grooves of the leg attachment fittings  30 . In particular, each leg  41  has a snap button  42  that mates with a corresponding hole  31  in a corresponding leg attachment fitting  30 . By accepting the snap button  42 , the leg  41  is captured within the attachment fitting  30 . The button  42  can be hollow or solid. During assembly of the bench  10 , the snap button  42  is depressed, either by hand or mechanically via a ramp (not shown in the figures) on the inside of the attachment fitting  30 , where it remains depressed until it is aligned with the hole  31  of the fitting  30 . Once aligned with the hole  31 , the button  42  reassumes its normal position and fits into the hole  31 , thus capturing the leg  41 . To remove the leg  41  from the fitting  30 , the button  42  is depressed, and the leg  42  is pulled out of the fitting  30 . The button  42  of the preferred embodiment is moveable because the plastic used to form the legs  41  has a memory that drives the plastic back to its original shape. In the preferred embodiment, an elongated “U” shaped section of the leg wall is cut out, with the button  42  being on the bottom portion of the “U.” Thus, a cantilever type lever is formed that allows the button great freedom of movement about an axis formed at the top of the “U.” However, other means of providing a moveable button are envisioned.  
     [0025] Each leg  41  also has a ridge  43  that is aligned axially and molded on the exterior surface on the top portion of the leg  41 . The ridge  43  is received in a corresponding groove of a corresponding leg attachment fitting  30 , which assures that the bench  10  will be assembled in the correct manner. The funnel-shaped groove can grip the ridge  43  on the leg  41  as the leg is slid into the fitting  30  during assembly. As ridge  43  moves into the narrower portions of the funnel-shaped groove, an interference fit is created, which reduces the axial movement of the legs  41 . Alternatively, the ridge  43  can have a wedge shape and the groove could have substantially parallel walls, thus the wedge forms an interference fit with the groove as the leg  41  is slid into the fitting  30 . Alternatively, a key can be used in place of ridge  43 .  
     [0026] In the preferred embodiment, the legs  41  have another ridge  44  that extends over the circumference of the leg  41 . Other embodiments could use a ridge that extends over only a portion of the circumference, or alternatively, a plurality of lugs that are evenly or unevenly spaced, or a single lug. When the legs  41  are inserted into the attachment fittings  30 , the ridges  44  abut lower rims  33  of the fittings  30 , thus allowing most of the weight placed on the bench to be applied to the ridge  43  of the legs  41 .  
     [0027] The bench  10  can include a restraining member  60  configured to restrain a shower curtain (not shown) when the bench  10  is disposed at least partly within a bathtub or shower. Preferably the restraining member  60  is disposed adjacent the first seating surface  20  and extends below it. The restraining member  60  can include, for example, a trough  61  molded in the platform  21  on the upper portion. While taking a shower, a user can form a shower curtain around the bench and stuff at least a portion of the curtain into the trough  61  to maintain the curtain in position.  
     [0028] The restraining member  60  also can includes a drain  62  configured to direct liquid into the bathtub or shower while the restraining member  60  restrains the shower curtain. Preferably, the trough  61  is angled to allow water to flow toward the center and/or away from the outside of the tub. In the preferred embodiment, water from the trough  61  flows down water directing surfaces  63 , such as side walls of the trough  61 , and exits through two drain holes  64  at the bottoms of the trough  61 .  
     [0029] The first seating surface  20  of this preferred embodiment also includes an ergonomic concave area  25  to accommodate the lower portions of the user. A series of strategically placed holes  26  (not all labeled) are located in the concave area  25  for drainage. The holes  26  can also be used for perineal cleaning. By holding a hand held shower wand under the bench  10 , spraying water up through the holes  26  can aid in the bathing process.  
     [0030] The bench  10  also may include a handle  65  and a soap dish  70 . The handle  65  can be molded as an integral part of the platform  21  and disposed adjacent the first seating surface  20 . The handle  65  comprises a horizontal, substantially cylindrical portion or gripping surface  66  supported above the platform  21  by vertical portions or handle supports  67  and  68 . The ends of the handle supports  67  and  68  are molded with the platform  21 , and the gripping surface  66  is molded with the handle supports  67  and  68 . This arrangement provides a gap between the gripping surface  66  and the first seating surface  20 .  
     [0031] The soap dish  70  can be disposed substantially under the handle  65 . The gap between the gripping surface  66  and the first seating surface  20  permits a user to access the soap dish  70  and the contents of the soap dish  70  while sitting on the bench  10 . Preferably the soap dish  70  extends below the first seating surface  20  and, more preferably, is disposed entirely below the first seating surface  20 . The soap dish  70  can be removable, permitting ease of cleaning. It can be made from molded plastic, such as high modulus polypropylene. The soap dish  70  fits into a receptacle or opening  27  (see FIG. 2) formed in the platform  21 . The soap dish  70  has a soap dish rim  71  that engages a rim of the opening  27  when the soap dish  70  is received in the opening  27 . In the preferred embodiment, the soap dish  60  is held in the opening  27  by gravity, although it can be held in place via a positive retention means. For example, raised surfaces can be provided on either the soap dish  70  or the platform  21 , or both, to provide an interference fit when the soap dish  70  is attached to the platform  21 .  
     [0032] Another handle  73  (see FIG. 3) can be provided on the platform  21 . Preferably it is molded integrally with the platform  21 . The handle  73  can be positioned on the underside of platform  21  and is not a protrusion type handle like handle  65 , although other embodiments can utilize a protrusion type handle.  
     [0033] In the preferred embodiment, ridges or knurling or dimpling (both concave and/or convex) is molded into some or all of the hand grips. It is noted that the ridges can be substantially elongated, although the ridges can be of a smaller or larger configuration. The platform  21  can have hollow portions (not shown) in the vicinity of the handles to provide additional clearance for the user&#39;s hand. By providing two handles, the end user can use the bench more securely.  
     [0034] The bench  10  also may include a pad  80  that can be positioned on the first seating surface  20  to provide a second seating surface  81 . The pad  80  is preferably made from a soft material that is compatible with the material of the platform  21 . For example, the pad  80  can be made of foam, and is preferably made from a polyethylene compound by molding.  
     [0035] The pad  80  can have drainage holes and/or slots  83  which extend through the pad  80 . The drainage holes  83  permit water to flow through the pad  80  and into the concave area  25  and/or trough  61  and through the drainage holes  26  in the platform  21  and/or through holes  64  in the trough  61 . Further, the pad  80  of the preferred embodiment has cut-outs  84  which allow the pad to be placed around all or a portion of the support struts  94 , although other embodiments can utilize a pad without cutouts (e.g. the pad does not extend all the way to the support struts). Additionally, the pad  80  can be symmetrical in design, thus allowing the pad to be reversed when the back support  90  is reversed.  
     [0036] The pad  80  can be secured to the platform  21  via connectors  85  that maintain the pad  80  in position on the first seating surface  20 . The connectors  85  can be connected, disconnected, and reconnected such that the pad  80  can be positioned on the first seating surface  20 , removed from the first seating surface  20 , and reconnected to the first seating surface  20 . The connectors  85  can be, for example, foam plugs made from the same or similar material as the pad  80 , and that also are made by modling. The connectors  85  fit through holes  86  in the foam pad  80 , as well as holes  28  molded into the platform  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the connectors  85  each have a tapered surface  87  (an inverted frustum-shaped portion), which allows the connectors  85  to collapse while being pulled through the holes  86  in the pad  80  and the holes  28  in the platform  21 . Once the connector  85  is pulled through a hole it springs back to its original profile to secure the pad  80  in place. To remove the pad  80 , the connector  85  is squeezed at its tapered surface  87  and pushed back through the hole. The connectors  85  can resemble bolts for wooden garage doors, having a rounded end with an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the shank portion of the connector  85 . The rounded end of the connector  85  is shaped so as to not interfere with the user if the end-user sits on the bench directly above on of the plugs. While the preferred embodiment utilizes four connectors, more or fewer connectors can be used to practice the invention.  
     [0037] The bench  10  may also include two recess areas  88  molded into the side of the platform  21 . The recesses  88  allow a shower wand to be connected to the bench  10 . While recesses  88  are utilized to practice the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other means can be utilized.  
     [0038] The bench  10  can include a back support  90 . The back support  90  of the bench is configured to be comfortable and to support the back of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the back support  90  comprises a back support body  91  that can be made from molded plastic, such as high modulus polypropylene. In the preferred embodiment, the back support body  91  has a hollow backside with molded ribbing (not shown) to provide support, although the invention can be practiced without ribbing, with just a portion of the backside being hollow, or with a solid back support body  91 . The back support body  91  of the preferred embodiment is contoured to interface with the back of the user. The back support body  91  has handles  92  and  93  near its upper ends. These handles  92  and  93  can be molded into the back support  90 , and, in the preferred embodiment, do not protrude from the basic shape of the back support body  91 . The handles  92  and  93  are ergonomically designed to allow the end-user to comfortably grasp the bench  10 .  
     [0039] The back support  90  also includes the support struts  94  for supporting the back support body  91 . In the preferred embodiment, the support struts  94  are molded integrally with the back support body  91 . The invention can be practiced with support struts that are mechanically attached to the body. Each support strut  94  has an adapter  95  that is configured to fit into receptacles  29  (described below) on the platform  21 . The adapters  95  have a greater cross sectional area than the upper portion of the support strut  94 , although the invention can be practiced with an adapter having the same cross sectional area as the support strut, or the invention can be practiced with support struts that do not have adapters. The adapters  95  have a lip  96  around the upper portion of the adapters  95 . This lip  96  prevents the adapter  95  from sliding completely through the receptacle  29  if the receptacle  29  extends completely through the platform  21 . Also, the lip  96  allows the height of the back support  90  to be precisely controlled.  
     [0040] The adapters  95  have snap clips  97  molded into the adapters  95 . The snap clips  97  can be either hollow or solid. During assembly of the bench  10 , the snap clip  97  is depressed, either by hand or mechanically via a ramp on the inside of the receptacle  29  (not shown in the figures), where it remains depressed until it is aligned with a hole on the inside of the receptacle (not shown). Once aligned with the hole, the clip  97  reassumes its normal position and fits into the hole, thus capturing the back support  90 . To remove the back support  90  from the platform  21 , the clip  97  is depressed by hand completely outside or substantially outside the hole in the receptacle  29 , and the back support  90  is pulled out of the receptacle  29 . The clip  97  of the preferred embodiment is moveable because the plastic used to form the adapters  95  has a memory that drives the plastic back to its original shape. In the preferred embodiment, an elongated squared “U” shaped section of the adapter wall is cut out, with the clip being on the “U”. Thus, a cantilever type lever is formed that allows the clip great freedom of movement about an axis formed at the top of the “U.” The principle of operation is much the same as that of the buttons  42  on the legs  41 . However, other means of providing a moveable clip are envisioned. Further, other means of securing the back support  90  to the platform are envisioned.  
     [0041] Receptacles  29  for receiving the back support  90  can be molded into the upper portion of the platform  21 . The receptacles  29  of the preferred embodiment are configured to receive the adapters  95  on the support struts  94  of the back support  90 . Preferably, as is seen in FIG. 2, the receptacles  29  take the form of slots along or near the periphery of the seating surface of the platform  21 . The receptacles  29  are positioned on either side of the platform  21 , thus allowing the bench to be usable in a bath or shower with the entrance to the bath or shower on the left or right side, because the back support  90  can be mounted on either side of the platform  21 .  
     [0042] In the preferred embodiment, the bench  10  can be placed in the bathtub with handle  50  and soap dish  60  against the inside wall of the tub. To reverse the seating direction depending on the water faucet location, the back support is simply moved.  
     [0043] Further, in the preferred embodiment, fillers  99  can be provided which are placed in the receptacles  29  that are not being used. However, it is envisioned that the invention can be practiced without the fillers  99 . Fillers  99  of the preferred embodiment are made from the same material or substantially the same material as the platform  21 . They cover all of the open portion of the empty receptacles  29 , and when installed, provide a flush or semi-flush top surface of platform  21 . The fillers  99  are held in place by extended clips  100 , which positively fasten the fillers inside the receptacles  29 , although other retention means are envisioned.  
     [0044] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.