Abstract:
A bath stall unit for accommodating a disabled person includes a walled structure having a curved exterior wall portion and a curved access door associated therewith. The door is movable generally horizontally along a curved path defined by the wall portion between open and closed positions to provide access to the unit by lateral transfer, such as from a wheelchair. A toilet in the unit is disposed to receive a person transferred thereinto, where both a lavatory and shower facilities are provided. The configuration of the unit provides a sufficiently narrow width to permit an assembled unit to be delivered to a home or a facility through an exterior doorway.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of a prior filed, co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/928,535, filed May 10, 2007, entitled PORTABLE DISABILITY BATH. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a portable bathing and sanitary system for catastrophically injured persons or those confined to a wheelchair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0230526 A1 discloses a catastrophic disability bath that comprises a bath stall formed by a system of panels including a front panel having an access door mounted thereon that is rotatable about a horizontal axis and is swung vertically upwardly from a closed to an open position to permit entry by a disabled person by a single lateral transfer from a wheelchair. The stall includes a toilet, a shower and a lavatory and is preferably approximately 15 square feet (1.4 square meters) in total area, thus enabling the bath unit to be utilized in a home care environment. As expensive modifications to the home are not required, family home care at modest cost is possible. The stall can be shipped in modular form and easily assembled in the home or a care facility. 
         [0004]    However, it is more desirable to provide a portable, preassembled system that has a sufficiently narrow width that it can be moved into a home through the front door and installed therein at a desired location. The access door to the unit is preferably open and closed by horizontal movement to provide ease of operation and eliminate any possible problem of overhead clearance. The ability to connect to the available sewer system whether upstream or downstream from the unit location is also desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned requirements are addressed by providing a portable bath stall unit for accommodating a disabled, nonwalking person comprising a walled structure having a floor therein and which includes a curved wall portion that minimizes the length of the unit and provides an access way for ingress and egress by the user. A curved door associated with the curved wall portion provides a pocket door arrangement and is mounted for movement generally horizontally along a curvilinear path between an open position providing access to the unit and a closed position cooperating with the curved wall portion to close the unit. A toilet on the floor is disposed adjacent the wall portion for lateral transfer of a person into the unit and onto the toilet when the door is in its open position. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the invention, the wall portion and the door have substantially the same curvature thereby providing a pocket door that slides back into the cavity provided by the pocket and permits lateral transfer of a person from a wheelchair into the unit and onto a toilet therein when the door is in its open position. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a curved curb at the access way presenting a guideway for the door and also preventing escape of water that may collect on the floor of the unit. The door has a lower edge in sliding contact with the curb as the door is opened and closed. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the present invention, first and second spaced, curved wall portions are utilized which define an opening therebetween to provide access to the unit and present opposed end portions of the walled structure, thereby presenting the front side and opposed end portions of the bath stall unit. 
         [0009]    A further aspect of the invention is the ability to limit the width of the unit to less than the standard width of an exterior door of a home, thereby permitting a finished unit, fully assembled, to be delivered to the home via an exterior doorway in a completely assembled condition. 
         [0010]    An additional aspect is to provide a portable bath stall unit having an access door to the toilet and bath movable horizontally between open and closed positions along a path that shortens the required the length of the unit so it can be readily accommodated in a home of modest size or a mobile home. 
         [0011]    Also, a further aspect of the invention is to provide an embodiment of a portable bath stall unit having a curved exterior wall structure extending from one end of the unit to the other to increase the area of the bath stall, and wherein a lavatory is mounted in the stall for movement between a first position spaced from the toilet and a second position adjacent the toilet within reach of a person seated thereon, thereby accommodating an immobile person seated on the toilet by movement of the lavatory to the second position. 
         [0012]    Other advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein embodiments of the present invention are set forth by way of illustration and example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first embodiment of the disability bath with the access door in its closed position, a top panel above and behind the toilet being omitted to show the configuration of the side panel and curb, a fender component of the door track being omitted for clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 1  but with the door in its open position, showing an individual in a wheelchair prior to lateral transfer into the unit onto the toilet. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged detail view showing a cross-section of the curb on which the lower edge of the access door is in sliding contact, and shows the fender component. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a frontal perspective view of the unit with the door open. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, detail, cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4  and showing the curb, fender and adjacent side of the toilet. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a frontal perspective view showing the door closed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the unit, i.e., as seen from the left side of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation as viewed from the right side in  FIG. 6  but with the hinged, curved side wall shown fragmentarily in an open position to reveal mechanical and plumbing components behind the toilet. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a partial, detail, perspective view looking downwardly through the access opening to reveal interior components, the door being shown in its open position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing a second embodiment of the disability bath having an entirely curved front side, and a lavatory in the bathroom area rotatable between the full and broken line positions illustrated. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, plan view of the lavatory shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the lavatory of  FIG. 11  with parts broken away to show the swivel components. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to the drawings, initially to  FIGS. 1-7  and  9 , a disability bath unit  10  includes specially shaped and positioned panels secured to an aluminum frame. The panels are preferably made from flat sheet ABS thermoplastic, vacuum formed to the required configuration. The panel elements include a base panel  12  presenting the floor of the bath unit, a long rear panel  14  secured at its inner edge to a stud  16  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a shorter rear panel  18  in the same vertical plane as panel  14  extending from stud  16  to a corner  19  of the unit, a left side panel  20 , a narrow front wall panel  22  at the left side of the entrance to the bath unit ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ), a curved, sliding pocket door  24  shown closed in  FIGS. 1 and 6  and extending to the height of the front panel  22 , a curved right front and side wall panel  26  extending the entire vertical height of the bath unit  10  and having a terminal, vertical edge  28  adjacent the backside of a toilet  30  within the walled unit. The curved pocket door  24  is shown closed in  FIG. 1  and open in  FIG. 2  to permit the lateral transfer of a disabled person  32  ( FIG. 2 ) from a wheelchair  34  to a toilet seat  35 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  shows the front access to the toilet  30  (and other facilities in the unit to be discussed) with the wall panels removed to reveal that the floor  12  is formed with a curb  36  having an arcuate configuration at the front of the bath unit conforming to the curvature of the door  24  (shown open in  FIG. 9 ) and the wall panel  26  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). As shown in detail in  FIG. 3 , the door  24  slides on the upper surface of the curb  36  and is prevented from shifting outwardly off of the curb by a fender strip  40  which projects above the top surface of curb  36 . It should be noted that for clarity the fender  40  is not shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  9 . Also, the curved outer wall  26  is not shown in  FIG. 9  in order to reveal door  24  in its fully open position. A pair of aluminum studs  42  shown in  FIG. 9  form part of the inner frame of the bath unit and are removable to permit the door  24  to be removed for service. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  reveals that the rear panel  14  has an opening  43  at the bottom thereof to permit access to a macerator  44  in a drain line  46  from a lavatory  48  at the interior corner of the unit formed by rear panel  14  and left side panel  20 . As may be appreciated from  FIGS. 2 and 9 , a person on the toilet seat  35  has access to the lavatory  48  while seated as the lavatory is immediately in front and to the right of the seated individual. Accidental overflow from lavatory  48  or toilet  30  flows readily to a floor drain  50 . Any escape of wastewater is precluded by the curb  36 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the side panel  26  is shown fragmentarily swung to an open position about a vertical axis defined by a piano hinge  52  that joins the vertical rear edge of panel  26  to the outer edge of rear panel  18  at corner  19 . In  FIG. 8 , door  24  is in its closed position as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6  and thus provides access to the plumbing and mechanical components seen in  FIG. 8 . A vertical panel  53  behind toilet  30  presents an interior wall and separates the toilet and bath stall from the plumbing and mechanical components, which in the unit illustrated include a macerator  54  for the toilet, a tankless water heater  56  for the lavatory  48  and a showerhead  58  which, in operation, directs water downwardly on an individual on toilet seat  35 . A mixer valve  60  receiving both hot and cold water is shown in  FIG. 8  upstream from a pipe  62  extending through a top panel  63  of the unit  10  to the showerhead  58 . Other bathroom components for convenience and use include items as desired such as an adjustable, wall-mounted mirror  64 . 
         [0029]    In use, the curvilinear pocket door  24  slides at its lower edge on the curb  36  between the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and the open position thereof shown in  FIG. 2 . The door  24  is guided along its path by the complimentary curvilinear outer wall  26 , curb  36 , an outer side surface  64  ( FIG. 5 ) presented by the toilet  30 , and fender  40 . Accordingly, door  24  is confined to a curvilinear path and its stability is further maintained by its curvilinear configuration that precludes inner movement of the door  24  off of the track established by the curb  36  and wall  26 . 
         [0030]    Additionally, it should be appreciated that the curvilinear configuration of the access door  24  and related components limits the length of travel of the door  24  in a lateral direction (to the right as viewed in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) thereby minimizing the overall lateral length of the bath stall unit. This facilitates accommodation of the unit in small dwellings where space is limited. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, the maximum front to rear dimension of the unit necessary to accommodate the toilet  30 , lavatory  48  and related components may be limited to approximately 34 inches (86 cm.) and thus enable a completely assembled unit to be delivered to a dwelling through a standard 36-inch wide exterior door. Accordingly, the unit of the present invention may be delivered to the user preassembled and ready to be connected to water and sewer lines. The macerators do not require a downstream sewage connection and thus additional flexibility is provided with respect to selection of a suitable location of the unit within the dwelling. 
         [0032]    It should be appreciated that the aluminum frame that supports the panels and other components of the unit is only partially shown. In particular, utilization of a stable frame construction behind the panel  53  is important for both structural support and to provide sufficient weight to offset any tendency of the unit to become unstable when the weight of a disabled person is added to the stall during use. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and has the same components as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9  except as described below. Components shown which are utilized by the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9  are designated by the same reference numerals with the addition of the prime (′) notation. As is evident from the plan view of  FIG. 10 , the second embodiment has a curved wall structure  70  which, as viewed in plan, defines a continuous curvilinear configuration from a rear corner  72  of the bath unit  70  to an opposite corner  74  thereof. A base panel  76  of generally semi-circular configuration presents the floor of the bath unit  70  and provides additional floor area from the front of toilet seat  35 ′ to corner  74 . A lavatory  78  is mounted on a pivot  80  described in detail below, for movement between the full line position shown in  FIG. 10  remote from the toilet  30 ′, to a position adjacent the toilet  30 ′ illustrated in broken lines. As in the first embodiment, the floor drain  50 ′ receives discharge from the lavatory  78 , irrespective of its position within the bath unit. 
         [0034]    Access to the toilet seat  35 ′, lavatory  78  and the shower is via the curved, sliding pocket door  24 ′ shown in its closed position in  FIG. 10 . However, as compared with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 , a curved wall member  82  extends from rear corner  74  outwardly in an arc to an outer vertical edge  84  whereby, in the closed position of pocket door  24 ′ shown in  FIG. 10 , a three-component, entirely arcuate sidewall is presented comprising wall panel  26 ′, pocket door  24 ′, and the curved wall member  82 . Accordingly, without increasing the depth of the bath unit  70  from door  24 ′ to the rear wall  14 ′, additional space is provided in the lavatory area in front of the toilet seat  35 ′ and, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 , a preassembled unit may be delivered through a standard 36-inch wide exterior door. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-12  provides an immobile person with the option of easily using the lavatory  78  from the toilet seat  35 ′. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , an angle member  86  is bolted to wall panel  14 ′ and presents a horizontal surface to which an upstanding pivot rod  88  is welded to provide a vertical axis. A tube  80  depending from a rear projection of the lavatory  78  receives rod  88  to provide a vertical axis about which the lavatory  78  may be rotated between the full line position thereof at the end of the stall shown in full lines in  FIG. 10 , and a second operational position shown in broken lines where the lavatory  78  partially overlies the toilet  30 ′ for easy access by a person seated thereon. Therefore, in addition to being positioned directly under the showerhead  58  as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 4 , a immobile user may have access to the lavatory  78  without assistance. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and equivalents thereof.